Jamie Munks
The State Journal-Register
The Springfield City Council on Wednesday will begin its piece-by-piece review of Mayor Mike Houston’s proposed budget, and some aldermen want to see changes to provide funding for an inspector general and more money for demolishing dilapidated buildings. City leaders next week will host the first of five departmental budget hearings through Jan. 22, during which they will comb through the Houston administration’s proposal.
The proposed corporate fund budget, which includes most city operations outside of City Water, Light and Power, calls for spending $118.1 million in fiscal year 2016, which starts March 1.
From what he’s gone through so far, Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen said the proposed budget seems “very similar” to the city’s current budget.
During the first hearing Wednesday, aldermen will discuss the proposed budgets for Lincoln Library, the Office of Planning and Economic Development, the city council, and the city clerk’s and treasurer’s offices. The council recently approved amending city code to establish an Office of the Inspector General, a watchdog post to look into alleged instances of wrongdoing in city government, which isn’t funded in the mayor’s budget proposal.
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The city has been working with Chicago-based firm Hillard Heintze on a study that looks at how to implement an inspector general in Springfield.
Aldermen last month voted to establish the office and an ethics committee to oversee the position, but there hasn’t been any funding set aside for it, which could be the biggest hurdle. Past estimates have pegged the cost at upward of $200,000 annually, an amount Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards said he can’t support.
One of the remaining unknowns is funding for CWLP, which has a separate budget from the city’s corporate fund, so aldermen “do not know how management plans to address the financial shortfalls in the electric division,” according to Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin.
That budget should be released in the coming weeks.
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City budget hearing schedule
* Wednesday – 5:30 p.m. Budgets for city treasurer, clerk, city council, Lincoln Library, planning and economic development
* Jan. 13 – Immediately following the 5:30 p.m. committee of the whole meeting. Budgets for the convention and visitors bureau, human resources and public works.
* Jan. 15 – 5:30 p.m. Budget for City Water, Light and Power
* Jan. 20 – Immediately following the 5:30 p.m. city council meeting. Budgets for police and fire departments
* Jan. 22 – 5:30 p.m. Budgets for mayor’s office, budget and management
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 