Facing foreclosures, job losses and city debt, aldermen postponed voting on a proposed property tax levy at Monday’s Evanston City Council meeting.
The measure, which is voted on annually, would keep the tax levy rate the same as last year’s. The proposed tax would help fund Evanston Township, which is separate from the Evanston city government.
“I’m voting against it because it’s my firm belief that we’re being overcharged an excess of $300,000,” said Ald. Ann Rainey (8th). “(Township estimates) keep over-projecting our client base and expenditures.”
Rosemary Jean-Paul, executive director of Evanston Township, countered Rainey, claiming that the current economic downturn will require more funds, not fewer. Jean-Paul said that in the 1990s, the Township’s Emergency Assistance Program had to borrow money from the city because it underestimated its funds, which are provided by the levy. Last year, Evanston provided the $86,000 that the program needed, and its expenses will be covered this year if the levy is approved.
“In today’s economy, we anticipate more people coming in for general assistance, and we need funds available for them,” she said. “We budget for 80 clients because we average between 70 and 75. Unless the economy undergoes a drastic change, we will need that cushion.”
After more verbal sparring between Rainey and Jean-Paul, aldermen moved to hold the item pending further discussion. Mayor Lorraine Morton suggested a special meeting for review of the Township account.
“This is the same argument made over the past six years,” Rainey said. “Even if you had a 10 to 15 percent increase in the number of clients, you could still cover them with your existing balance (from previous surpluses).”
Earlier in the night, the Administration and Public Works Committee adopted a measure requiring contractors working with the city to hire Evanston residents.
The “Local Employment Program” would amend city code to “ensure Evanston residents are hired to perform 15 percent of the total work hours at the construction site and that a minimum of one Evanston resident is hired for the projects with a value at or greater than $500,000.”
Although the aldermen agreed that construction projects in the city should employ more local residents, the logistics of implementing the resolution was debated.
“I am predicting, ladies and gentlemen, an absolute accounting nightmare,” Rainey said. “There are, like, 10 pages of definitions.”
Rainey, the lone dissenter, called the measure “way overdone.”
Other aldermen said the resolution was fine as written.
“I do not think any of our people foresee such a hardship in terms of implementation,” Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd) said.
Ald. Cheryl Wollin (1st) said she understood Rainey’s concerns about administrative difficulties and voted for the plan with the stipulation that the committee have a degree of oversight.
“I think we should put it into effect and see a progress report, and see if it’s working,” she said.
The council approved the program on its consent agenda.
[email protected]@u.northwestern.edu
