Village Eyes Budget Cuts In Anticipation of State Funding Loss

Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves and officials are bracing for a 50 percent reduction in shared municipal funding, by excising $800,000 in expenditures originally included in the fiscal year 2016 operating budget.

The Finance Committee has made one-time cuts to the $25.76 million budget that include a reduction in the road program and capital equipment purchases, in addition to a freeze on any new unfunded staff requests, said Village Administrator George Schafer.

The bulk of the cut comes from the village’s local road resurfacing program, in which annually the Village contracts out to resurface a portion of Lemont roads, along with annual upgrades to police and public works vehicles.

If the state funding reduction proves to be permanent with the state’s July 1 budget year, the committee will assess the need for further cuts to services and programs.

The budget was discussed during a public hearing during Monday’s Lemont Village Board meeting. A second public hearing will be held March 23, with approval of the budget expected on April 13.