Some LaSalle County Board members have said for years there’s nowhere left to cut costs, but the county government departments are being asked to cut 2% next year. Finance Committee Chairman Brian Dose says the $600,000 that would save next year would help the county avoid much bigger shortfalls later.
The County Board yesterday placed on file a property tax levy request for $29.5 million, up $1.2 million from this year’s payments. The general fund budget is forecast to be $30.9 million, an amount Dose wants to cut to $30.3 million when the board adopts the budget at the end of this month.
Overall revenue is forecast at $99.4 million, compared to $97.3 million in expenses. That surplus is in funds with restricted uses planned for later, so it can’t be used to cover costs in other departments.