Orland Park Tightens Proposed 2011 Budget

After the third and final round of pruning, Orland Park staff and trustees have sculpted a balanced budget that reconciles their hopes for a new year with the reality of a sluggish economy.

Lawmakers and administrators met Monday night to discuss the effect of changes made to the village's 2011 budget discussed during the first budget workshop in September, and to find room for new department and discretionary requests. At the second budget workshop on Oct. 11, staff and trustees patched a $4.8 million hole in the proposed budget's capital improvement projects section.

Staff estimated on Monday that the changes discussed in September leave the village with an additional $369,824. Of that amount, $94,824 was marked for additional Parks and Recreation, Building Maintenance, Public Works and Police departments projects and operating costs found since the last budget workshop.

The board agreed the remaining $275,000 would be set aside for non-essentials, including software upgrades and the revival of the Chili Willie Chili Challenge, after a one-year hiatus. Trustee Kathy Fenton said she has found a sponsor to cover the difference of the cook-off's estimated revenue and expenses.

Also included in special events next year is an orchestral concert in the Colette Highlands subdivision on July 3. The event is slated to cost $20,000, but Mayor Dan McLaughlin said revenue from vendors, sponsorships and a possible grant could offset much of that total. Trustee Bernard Murphy said it was "the wrong way to spend money" and suggested striking the event from the budget. Other officials disagreed.

"A community is a community because of the family events and things that get people together," McLaughlin said. "Fourth of July, this kind of a concert, our Taste of Orland — I think all of those things make it a nicer community and we have to consider those things in the budget."

Other items kept include a $10,000 donation to the 159th Street auto dealers to help "buy-local" marketing efforts and $5,000 for two staff members to attend an International Council of Shopping Centers convention.

Since Trustee Bernard Murphy says he will not run for re-election next year, Trustee Ed Schussler suggested setting aside $1,000 for the purpose of training a freshman trustee and for sending him or her to the next Illinois Municipal League convention.

To fit all of these demands, the board was forced to cut $44,000 in the contingency fund — which meets unexpected, emergency purchases — and eliminate an $18,000 transfer from operating revenue to the Open Lands Fund, which is already $1.3 million strong. The budget still has $106,000 set aside for contingency purposes.

"There isn't an item we haven't budgeted for that could come in lower," McLaughlin said before concluding the workshop. "If it comes in higher we can (choose) at the time not to go ahead with it."

Trustee James Dodge told his colleagues that even an approved budget is merely an outline.

"If we don't like the way the year's progressing, we dial some of these (items) back," he said.

Finance Director Annmarie Mampe said the budget as it now stands should be published for the public's viewing on Nov. 22. Trustees are expected to approve it at the Board meeting on Dec. 6, in time for the start of the fiscal year on Jan. 1, 2011.