VILLA PARK : City Council Passes Balanced Budget

The City Council this week unanimously approved a 1995-96 city budget that forecasts $1.9 million in revenue and nearly $1.9 million in spending during the fiscal year.

The new budget calls for spending $41,016 more than the $1,821,244 in 1994-95. City officials said the slightly higher amount of expenditures can be handled because of increased revenue. Nonetheless, cutbacks were made in spending in many areas, City Manager Fred Maley said.

“The council reduced $24,827 in operating expenses and [reduced] $10,000 in capital improvements,” Maley said. “With the approval of a revised franchise for refuse, the city will generate an additional $14,000 in franchise fees and a one-time $20,000 capital contribution in exchange for a new [longer contract] agreement.”

Maley said the city also will not have to pay as much as it once believed to keep its branch county library open four days a week. Earlier this year, the City Council pledged the city would spend up to $50,000 in the new fiscal year, if necessary, to keep the library open.

Maley said county government’s recent settlement plan for library branches will allow Villa Park to keep its branch open four days a week if the city pays $23,116 toward the cost. “That’s the maximum exposure [cost] for the city,” Maley said. He said some or all of that cost will be recouped by a citizens’ committee fund drive currently in progress.