Substantial Cuts Identified in Effort to Balance Budget

Creation of the 2012-13 budget already has begun, and the village’s seven department heads tentatively have identified $1.1 million in cuts.

The village departments include administration, public works, building and zoning, finance, fire/rescue, police and parks & recreation.

The reductions — which are being considered in training expenses, overall purchasing, deferred vehicle purchases and other areas — are roughly two-thirds of the way to the projected $1.7 million in reductions needed to balance the budget.

“There are substantial cuts on the table. Department heads have been asked to prioritize spending in their (separate) budgets,” said Roy Witherow, interim village administrator.

Because the Village Board is in the process of reviewing proposed cuts, details are not yet available on where exactly they will be made and whether there will be a noticeable effect on village services, Witherow said.

The recent exits of Village Administrator Bob Vitas and Finance Director Al Zochowski — both of whom left Dec. 30, 2011 — have made the already-tenuous budget process that much more challenging.

Witherow did say that budget deficit estimates initially were projected at more than $3 million, but once the numbers became clearer, that number dropped by almost half.

“We need to start looking at more long-range financial forecasting and planning, utilizing projections that assist us in looking at future spending more strategically,” Witherow said.

The reporting process, Witherow said, needs to include monthly updates to the Village Board on where each of the village’s fund balances stand.

“This will be a necessary tool for village administration and the board to work together in achieving balanced budgets not only for this budget cycle, but for those in the future,” Witherow said.

“The board asked for a balanced budget, and the $1.1 million goes a long way to reach that; (the board) will have to look at those proposed cuts in addition to our current fund balances,” said Witherow.

Residents are encouraged to take part in the budget process, starting March 3 at a special Village Board meeting dedicated to budget discussions. 

A draft final budget will be available for public inspection March 16, followed by workshops on March 22 and March 24 that residents also are welcome to attend.

A public hearing will be held April 19, with the final budget to be considered by the Village Board at a special meeting April 23.

For more information, visit the village website at www.volz.org.

The  operates with an overall budget of $46.8 million.

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