Author: joeward7

Bruce Rushton
The Illinois Times

With the redevelopment arm of the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association behind on property taxes, at least two city officials say the city of Springfield should consider taking over ownership of land from the cash-strapped group.

Since 2010, Enos Park Development has acquired dozens of properties using public money approved by the city council. Some homes have been demolished, some have been fixed up and some are awaiting new owners who will renovate them. While the neighborhood group boasts that 40 properties have been redeveloped

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

Springfield’s financial worries are piling up as budget discussions approach for the fiscal year that begins March 1. Revenue from sales tax this year is about 2 percent less than anticipated, according to city budget director Bill McCarty. This is on top of a smaller-than-expected share of state income tax that was reported in August.

As a result, the city expects $3.6 million less than the $120 million budgeted to be flowing into its largest fund, which pays for police, fire and public works, among other services. The city’s utility fund is separate. Further, Springfield’s credit rating was downgraded in October, due in large part to its growing pension debt

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

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Property tax rate

By a vote of 9-1, aldermen approved the city’s property tax rate for the coming year as the same as it’s been for the past several years — 0.9385 per $100 of assessed valuation. The money goes to pay the city’s state-mandated police and fire pension payments, which next year will be roughly $21.3 million.

City budget director Bill McCarty said that while property tax revenue would cover the mandatory payment this year, it likely won’t next year.

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

Mayor Jim Langfelder has put forward the name of a former alderman who served during his father’s first term as mayor for the soon-to-be vacant Ward 6 Springfield City Council seat.

Langfelder said Wednesday he plans to nominate Barry Becker, who was alderman for what was then Ward 7 from 1987 to 1991, for the temporary position. Becker, 75, was one of 10 residents who applied for the job, the mayor said.

“What’s the most immediate way to have someone and have someone who understands city government, especially with budget coming up? Becker has that,” Langfelder said.

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

The Springfield city clerk’s office is fielding inquiries about how to be a candidate for the remaining two years of Ward 6 Ald. Cory Jobe’s term on the Springfield City Council.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jim Langfelder’s office is accepting resumes from residents interested in serving as alderman for the central

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

A credit agency downgraded Springfield’s rating last week because of what it called “considerable growth” in the city’s pension liability. Mayor Jim Langfelder said the downgrade was unavoidable because of changes in accounting practices. But he added the city’s growing pension debt needs to be addressed in upcoming discussions about the budget for the fiscal year that starts March 1.

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said the growing liability shows the city has not done enough, and it should be a wakeup call.

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

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Pension liability

Chad Lucas, a representative from Sikich, which recently performed the yearly audit for fiscal year 2016, told aldermen that the city’s financial situation has deteriorated from the previous year. Lucas said it was in part due to the fact that pension liability, which he said is close to $500 million, must now be included in financial statements.

The city’s liability for police and fire pensions increased by $99 million, Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin pointed out.

“The impact of this is that we’re really shifting current responsibility to future generations and our future budgets will be devoted more and more to pension and health care costs. Delay only makes it worse for the next generation,” he said.

The State Journal-Register

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

After the Springfield City Council Tuesday night voted down a contract for a health clinic to serve city employees, the city’s budget director said it might mean not implementing the cost-saving changes to employee/retiree health plans that the council did approve. At least three of the six aldermen who opposed the $4 million clinic contract with HSHS Medical Group said they weren’t aware that the changes they approved earlier in Tuesday’s meeting were part of a package deal with city unions.

“The lack of a clinic jeopardizes everything that was voted on … because that was a big piece of all the negotiated changes,” budget director Bill McCarty said Wednesday.

Tim Landis
The State Journal-Register

Impatient, distracted, inconsiderate drivers are seldom the focus of economic development-business association agendas. But they got an earful — figuratively speaking — at the October meeting of the MacArthur Boulevard Association.

“They’re blowing stop signs and stoplights, and speeding where there are children,” Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin told the association monthly meeting on Thursday. It’s not just MacArthur Boulevard, of course, though the busiest section between South Grand and Wabash avenues is in McMenamin’s ward.

Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register

The five-member Springfield Fire Pension Board failed to approve a motion Thursday to exclude holiday pay from pension calculations for current firefighters, with the three active and former firefighter members abstaining.

But whether the vote means anything is debatable. City officials on the board say it moves the dispute toward resolution, while the board’s lawyer contends it has little impact. Both sides agree a judge might eventually have to decide.

At issue is whether the double-time pay