Both branches of the Evanston Public Library would be closed and a number of social service agencies would lose funding next year under Evanston’s proposed 2002-03 budget, which was presented Tuesday at a City Council meeting.
City Manager Roger Crum presented a $138 million budget for the coming fiscal year that was developed in response to the city’s projected $3.6 million budget deficit. In order to balance the proposed budget, city staff drastically cut some programs and completely eliminated others. Crum said this year’s economic recession exacerbated Evanston’s financial problems but did not create them. The city has had financial trouble for several years, with last year’s budget starting with a $2 million shortfall.
“The problem is real and long-term,” Crum said. “It’s not a quick-fix problem.”
The proposed budget is only a preliminary draft assembled by city staff. Over the next three months, aldermen will discuss different aspects of the budget, working to develop a final version that will be approved by Feb. 28.
Crum gave his budget presentation a month earlier than in previous years because the city wants to involve residents more in the budget process.
One significant cut recommended in the budget is the elimination of both branches of the library, leaving only the main building at 1703 Orrington Ave. Library Director Neal Ney said he supported this method of reducing expenditures if needed.
“If we’re going to make significant cuts in the library’s budget, this is the way to do it,” Ney said.
Closing the branches, which account for 17 percent of library use, will allow the main library to operate without significantly decreasing its hours or book-buying funds, Ney said.
The Summer Youth Employment Program, which helps employ teenagers, and the Fleetwood Jourdain Theater program also are slated for elimination under the proposed budget.
The budget also includes cuts of $150,000 from the city’s Mental Health Grants fund and $225,000 from the Community Purchased Services fund. Both programs, which provide social services to residents, would lose more than 30 percent of their funding under the proposed budget.
Crum said he looked at areas where the city gives money to other agencies, such as these social service organizations, when making his recommended cuts.
“If we don’t have the money to give, we can’t give it,” he said.
Major cuts were proposed for the city’s operating budget as well, although programs such as police field operations, fire and emergency response, and street maintenance received minimal reductions in funds.
The recommended budget cuts include cuts of 27 and a half jobs (including part-time positions) from the city. Only nine and a half of those positions are currently filled.
Aldermen said they were concerned that staff members were being told they would lose their jobs prematurely. Crum said he informed those people whose jobs are recommended for elimination so they could make future plans.
But Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd) said he was shocked the city did this and that it was “absolutely wrong.”
“I think we have a long way to go before we begin eliminating people’s jobs,” Jean-Baptiste said.
Aldermen said they were concerned the proposed cuts were not fully explained and requested that Crum provide citizens with a detailed explanation of each program’s services.
“I’m not sure citizens understand the impact some of these cuts are going to have,” said Ald. Stephen Engelman (7th), chairman of the Budget Policy Committee.
Some residents said they agreed with the aldermen’s comments and hope the city provides them with more information. Evanston resident John Kennedy said he is glad the city is involving residents in the budget process but more communication is needed.
“I think it’s healthy, I just hope that some of the data comes out,” he said.
Ald. Gene Feldman (9th) asked residents to tell aldermen how the proposed cuts would affect their lives.”
There is not a member on this City Council or staff that knows what affect exactly these cuts will have on people’s lives,” Feldman said. “I would suggest to you that your understanding
