Coronavirus: Darien Budget Gets 'Wicked Curveball'

DARIEN, IL — Darien has been thrown a "wicked curveball" for its budget year starting May 1, a top official said Monday. Because of the coronavirus, City Administrator Byron Vana said, the city must make major cuts.

For this budget year, revenue will be down $628,000 from the city's original estimate, Vana told the City Council. For the next budget year, the city is proposing $3.6 million in cuts, many from capital projects, he said.

"We looked at where we think our revenues are going to drop to and the need to hold off on most of our capital projects, most of our capital purchases and some of our maintenance items," Vana said. "This is the most conservative thing we can do in this difficult time. We all believe that things will get back on track, but we don't know when."

Mayor Joseph Marchese encouraged the council to approve Vana's recommended cuts. He said the original draft budget included many items that all council members agreed were good. But he said they needed to be cut because the city doesn't know where it is headed financially.

"In three or four months, we may be in worse condition," he said.

A vote on the budget is expected at a later meeting.

Read more:

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 8: 13,549 Cases; 380 Deaths

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