By Eric Stock
NORMAL – Normal’s Town Council on Monday night will consider a noticeably smaller budget.
The $102 million spending plan is about $20 million less than last year and including staffing cuts as well as increases in water, trash and sewer fees.
“The hope is that, in time, when we get past this perfect storm as I believe we will, we can restore some of those cuts again,” Council member Kathleen Lorenz said.
Lorenz told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the cuts are due in part to less money the town is getting from the state and from a now-defunct tax sharing agreement with Bloomington.
Lorenz likened it to running a household budget.
“If you had these things happen, you’d have to buckle down and make some tough decisions and that’s what we’ve had to do,” Lorenz said.
Twenty-four jobs are being eliminated, some through attrition, while the town is raising trash bills from $18 to $24 per month, water rates would rise two percent and sewer rates are set to more than double over the next five years.
The town has also cut funding for the Orlando Avenue police substation, a housing rehabilitation program and grants for historic homes. The town is also trimming some money for its Harmon Arts grants.
The town is looking to save drop-box recycling. A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. before the council vote.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
