City to have public hearing on 2005 budget
DE Staff Reporter
Daily Egyptian
editor@siu.edu
What would you do with $40 million dollars?
That is the topic the Carbondale City Council will discuss during its formal public hearing on the proposed $40 million budget for fiscal year 2005 at 7 p.m. tonight.
The budget covers the period between May 1 and April 30, 2005. Projects revenues are $37,430,637, an increase of 3 percent from last year. Expenditures are expected to be $40,194,648.
Revenues are expected to be $2,764,011 less then proposed expenditures.
The use of fund balances will provide part of the funding for the excess of expenditures and other financing to cover the difference.
In the proposed budget, sewer rates will increase Oct. 1. The increase will raise the sewer rates by $.30 per 1,000 gallons ˜ from $2.93 to $3.23. The 10.2-percent sewer rate increase is the third of three increases needed for the reconstruction of the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The rate increase will affect all Carbondale sewer users.
The proposed 2005 budget includes $95,584 in operating funds for the Eurma C. Hayes Childcare Center ˜ enough for only four months of the center's operation.
The Mayoral Review Panel is scheduled to find an acceptable proposal in regard to the fate of the center's child-care operations by July 1, at which time the council will have to take action of some kind, according to Mayor Brad Cole.
Pending a decision made by the City Council, adjustments to the budget will have to be made based on the decision on the future operations of the child-care center.
The city has already anticipated the elimination of two full-time child-care teachers in the Eurma C. Hayes Childcare Center. Further reductions are reflected in the child-care center's staffing being budgeted for only four months.
More than 14 full-time equivalent employee positions were cut from the city's fiscal year 2005 budget.
In addition, two-year labor contracts for the Teamsters Union, the International Association of Fire fighters, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union expire at the end on April 30. No new contracts have been negotiated yet.
According to Assistant City Manager Don Monty, the city must adopt a budget by April 30.
In addition to the budget, the City Council will review the Carbondale Revised Code as it relates to curfew.
A ruling by the Seventh Circuit Federal Court has declared curfews that interfere with a minor's First Amendment protected activities to be unconstitutional.
Currently, the city prohibits all individuals under the age of 17 from being present in a public place between 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
The change will allow individuals under 17 to be out after curfew for First Amendment protected activities, including political, church or school-related activities.
However, individuals who are under 17 would still be required to comply with the curfew restrictions unless they are attending such protected activities.
The Carbondale City Council will meet at 7 p.m. tonight at the Carbondale Civic Center. The public is encouraged to attend. A complete City Council Agenda can be accessed on the city website at http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us
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Daily Egyptian Spring 04 
