Staff Cuts, Fee Increases Balance Proposed 2019 Evanston Budget

EVANSTON, IL — A draft 2019 budget revealed Friday evening by City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz includes $3.3 million in increased revenue and $4.3 million in reduced expenses to cover a total deficit of almost $7.4 million. The proposed budget is 4.6 percent smaller than last year's edition and includes the elimination of the equivalent of more than 17 full-time filled positions, 21 vacant positions, a fire station and some city programs and services.

Despite the reduction of those 38.5 full-time equivalent positions, the budget also includes the addition of eight new positions. Some appear to be replacing eliminated positions at lower salaries.

For instance, a $130,565-per-year "legal analyst/liquor license manager" position is being cut but a paralegal with a salary of $84,500 is being added. The budget and finance manager's nearly $160,000 position is disappearing as a budget coordinator position is being added at $115,000, while a $120,000 payroll and pension specialist position appears to be replaced by a part-time payroll clerk due to receive $44,512.

The budget shortfall consists of a mix of a roughly $4.9 million baseline deficit in the general fund, in addition to a $1.5 million contribution to the city's reserves and an initial $1 million payment to service the debt on $50 million borrowed for the new Robert Crown Community Center.

The Evanston Fire Department would have the total largest reduction in spending under the proposed budget, although it would only lose one filled position. Eight vacant positions would be cut and Fire Station No. 4 near the corner of Main Street and Dodge Avenue in west Evanston's 2nd Ward would be closed. The change would leave the city with four firehouses, including Station No. 2 about seven blocks to the east of the station city staff suggest shuttering, and save the city about $1.3 million.

About $800,000 in savings would come from the Health and Human Services Department, according to the budget. The city would cut three full-time victim advocate positions, the entire vital records program, a communicable disease specialist, a public health educator and a vacant $160,000-per-year assistant director position. The city would also reduce its funding to its mental health board by about a third, cutting $250,000, while budgeting $150,000 to contract for a 24-hour crisis response to survivors of domestic violence.

The police department would also see some staff reductions. Five vacant officer positions, a vacant video records specialist position and one vacant commander position would be cut. Meanwhile the department budgeted for a $100,000 increase in its overtime budget and more than $311,000 for the annual cost of body camera software and storage.

The budget also recommends recouping about $172,000 in annual savings by ceasing to operate the Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center. The former Bocoo Cultural Center at Church Street and Dodge Avenue was acquired by the city in January 2015.

“The Evanston economy remains stable; however, future revenues are being reduced to reflect the slowing down of this building cycle in the community and the reduction of revenues due to the passage of the State of Illinois 2017-18 Budget,” Bobkiewicz said in a release announcing the proposed budget. “The recommended expense decreases in this proposed budget are designed to maintain the structural budget integrity of the City’s General Fund while minimizing the impact to City services. Given the continued concerns over the State of Illinois budget and economy, the City continues to adjust operations in a sustainable manner for the coming year and into the future.”

The biggest revenue increases are projected to come from parking. The price of hourly parking would double to $2, bringing in a projected $2 million in additional revenue, while getting rid of free Sunday parking would net another nearly $300,000. Meanwhile, hourly and monthly parking in city garages would get more expensive, bringing in about $400,000 in additional revenue. Residential parking permits would double from $15 to $30 for another $100,000 in revenue, while bumping up the cost of tickets for expired meters from $20 to $25 would provide the city an anticipated $90,000 in additional money.

There would also be a $10 increase in the wheel tax, bringing it to $85 for another $175,000. The transportation network tax, affecting the cost of using ride-hailing applications, would increase from $0.20 to $0.45 per ride and give the city $375,000. Hiking the cost of special trash pickups from $60 to $100 would bring in $120,000.

Evanston has released an interactive budget calculator called "Balancing Act," allowing users to offer feedback about how they would increase or decrease spending and revenues. The budget simulation offers a chance to explore how different choices could balance the city's budget, as well as opportunities for residents to submit feedback about specific budget choices.

Community discussions of the budget proposal have been scheduled in each of the city's nine wards from Oct. 9 to Oct. 24, and the budget will be formally presented to the City Council Oct. 22. A public hearing on the budget has been set for Oct. 7. City staff invited members of the community to submit feedback to the city manager's office via email, phone at 847-448-4311 or mail to City Manager's Office, 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 606201.

Scheduled Meetings:

• Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8 a.m. – Café Coralie, 633 Howard St. (8th Ward)
• Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. – Gibbs–Morrison Cultural Center, 1823 Church St. (5th Ward)
• Monday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. – Backlot Coffee, 2006 Central St. (7th Ward)
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. – Curt's Café North, 2922 Central St. (6th Ward)
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. – Temperance Beer Company, 2000 Dempster St. (2nd Ward)
• Monday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. – Berry Pike Café, 1100 Davis St. (4th Ward)
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, 8 a.m. – Bagel Art Café, 615 Dempster St. (3rd Ward)
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m. – Starbucks, 1734 Sherman Ave. (1st Ward)
• Wednesday, Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. – Little Beans Café, 430 Asbury Ave. (9th Ward)

Read more:

• Read complete proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Evanston budget
• Read proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget overview
  
• Try 'A Balancing Act': Submit your proposal for balancing the Evanston budget