Huntley Officials Worry Quinn's Plan to Cut Millions Would Affect 'Vital Services'

Huntley is joining a growing list of municipalities rallying against Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to cut $300 million in funding that officials say could threaten the vital services, like police protection and public works, the village provides.

Quinn is looking to reduce the amount of money the state gives local governments from the Local Government Distributive Fund. Huntley would see a loss of $568,409, Village Manager Dave Johnson said. The total is on top of late payments totaling  $510,505 that the state of Illinois still owes Huntley, officials said.

A $568,409 loss would mean the village would likely cut staffing levels or services, Johnson said.

Such a large reduction starts “to threaten core services,” Johnson said. “I think we are getting dangerously close to that point.”

“Nobody can afford that kind of money especially in these times,” Mayor Charles Sass said. “We’ve tightened our belts and (the proposal) is a continuation of a state that is fiscally irresponsible trying to put it on us.”

The Illinois Municipal League, an organization that represents local governments, has a draft resolution opposing the reduction and urges local governments to go on the record with their opposition, Johnson said.

Huntley trustees supported the strongly worded resolution that requests the “General Assembly and Governor take no further action that would financially ruin municipalities.” A formal vote will be taken next week.

A $568,409 loss would force the village to “make further budget cuts and reduce critical public services,” ultimately crippling communities throughout the state, according to the resolution.

“I think we’ve done a fine job cutting back considering the economy,” Trustee Pam Fender said. “I wish our state would do the same thing.”

Another point raised in opposition is the state’s recent income tax increase raised new revenues that went toward the state budget and cost local governments “over $2.7 billion in future lost revenues to the municipalities,” the resolution state.

Huntley has met with local representatives to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the state is in debt to Huntley to the tune of $510,505.36, Johnson said.

Additionally, Huntley officials are concerned about rising fuel costs. The village’s costs were 9 percent higher in the first quarter than what was budgeted in the general fund, Johnson said.

Johnson had some good financial news for the board. Despite Quinn’s plan to cut funding and the state’s late payments, Huntley remains financially stable. Every village department _ aside from public works, which had additional costs due to this year’s blizzard_ was within its budget during the first part of the year.