Illinois Budget Prompts Joliet To Whack OT Pay

JOLIET, IL - Joliet officials say the recently adopted Illinois budget is not good news for the state's third-largest city. Joliet projects it will lose about $2.6 million in total state funding. To address the situation, the city announced on Thursday that it intends to drastically reduce overtime pay for many Joliet police officers, firefighters and public works employees, barring some exceptions, effective immediately.

As of Thursday, all "non-emergency overtime shall be eliminated," interim City Manager Marty Shanahan announced in a city news release. Instances where overtime pay for city employees would still be acceptable, according to management, include structure fires, murders, water main breaks and snow plowing.

"Our employees, as well as our residents in Joliet, must understand that what happens in Springfield, especially when funding is involved, directly impacts our city," Shanahan said. "All department heads and division department heads will be responsible for enforcement."

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said the state funding situation essentially leaves the city with two choices: raise revenues or make cuts. O'Dekirk told Joliet Patch that he unequivocally opposes any notion of raising taxes on Joliet residents. This week, the mayor spoke with several union leaders for the city's bargaining groups including police and fire. "Obviously, they're not happy but I think they understand what our position is," O'Dekirk told Patch.

Initially, Joliet figured it stood to lose about $1.5 million in state funding. That forecast then grew to $1.9 million. Now the total estimate is closer to $2.6 million.

"I think the city manager (Shanahan) felt we needed to take action right away," O'Dekirk explained Thursday night.

The mayor said he fully expects more dialogue about Joliet's finances will take place in the coming days. Those discussions will likely involve the city's finance committee, he added.

Image via Patch Files