Oct 21, 2009 5:22 pm US/Central
New City Budget Draws From Parking Meter Revenues
Mayor Daley Is Trying To Close $550 Million Deficit
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Mayor Richard M. Daley presents the 2010 city budget.
CBS
You won't be paying any new taxes, but you also won't get to enjoy Venetian night and your neighborhood library won't be often as open, as Mayor Richard M. Daley closes a $550 million budget gap.
The mayor presented his budget to the City Council Wednesday morning. He has already talked about furlough days and layoffs, but now he has broken down exactly what is in store for 2010.
"We must face up to the challenges of the recession, and get more from every tax dollar, manage government even better, and resist adding new spending," Daley said.
The mayor's proposal cuts $114 million from the budget.
As part of the cuts, hours neighborhood public libraries will be cut back to 48 hours a week. Their hours will be staggered – some will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m., others will open at noon and close at 8 p.m.
The Harold Washington Library and the two regional libraries – Sulzer on the North Side and Woodson on the South – will remain open seven days a week.
Daley stood by his promise not to add any new taxes or fees to the budget.
The mayor instead wants to use $370 million from the parking meter lease to cover costs -- $100 million from the midterm reserve meant for 2012, and another $270 million for the long-term reserve account.
Late last year, the city leased all 36,000 on-street parking meters to a private company for 75 years, for a total of $1.15 billion.
But as it is now, Mayor Daley says no one can count on more money coming in, in the short term.
"We are cautiously hopeful that some revenues will begin to recover, although we don't expect revenues to fully rebound for several years," Daley said. "No city or state in the nation can."
Daley also wants to cut 220 vacant jobs and require that nonunion city employees take 24 unpaid furlough days in 2010.
No new taxes, fines or fees will also mean service cuts that would affect many Chicagoans, such as those who rely on the city's libraries.
Timothy Smith visits the Bucktown branch of the Chicago Public Library every day, hoping to find a free computer to go online and look for a job.
Many others do, too, and Smith had to wait on Wednesday. He said he fears it may get worse when -- instead of staying open 12 hours a day Monday through Thursday -- the branch cuts back to 8 hours a day.
"The way the recession is right now it's kind of hard finding a job," Smith said. So having fewer hours available to use library computers could make it even harder to do so.
Mike Ricketts said, "It's sad, I think. You know, but times are tough and, you know, you kind of understand everybody's making cuts right now.)
Even as the number of patrons has increased by 30 percent, Chicago libraries lost 120 employees in budget cuts this year. Facing a $4.6 million budget cut next year, Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey was planning no staff cuts for 2010.
Almost all the neighborhood branch libraries are reducing hours, while hoping to strengthen core services for children, seniors and the unemployed.
"The demand is so high. In this difficult economy, more and more people need library services, either for the technology, for the computers, or just the free resources, the books and the programs," Dempsey said. "They're looking for work themselves."
Central District Chief Librarian Andrea Telli said, "Hopefully, um, the level of service that we'll be providing will actually improve, because what we're trying to do is balance the number of employees so there will be a much more consistent level of service."
The mayor also said he is providing a $35 million property tax relief program.
Mayor Daley did not specifically address Venetian Night, or other city-sponsored recreational events,
but on Tuesday, city Special Events Director Megan McDonald said Venetian Night will be discontinued.
The decision was the result of a decline in corporate sponsorship, McDonald told the Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago's production costs were $100,000. But that taxpayer tab was multiplied by the cost of police, fire, traffic and sanitation needed to stage the event.
On July 27, Chicago's 52nd annual Venetian Night celebration drew more than a half-million people to the lakefront to watch a parade of decorated and illuminated boats float by.
The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival is also reportedly on the chopping block.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery will have more on the mayor's budget proposal tonight on the CBS 2 News at Six.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery, the Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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