| |
 |
 |
 |
|
Rosemary Mackey
(630)
293-2200 ext. 139
rmackey@westchicago.org |
City of West
Chicago
475 Main
Street
West Chicago,
Illinois 60185 |
|
|
|
|
City of West Chicago's 2010 Budget Supports a Customer-Centric Philosophy
Prioritizes a Commitment to Quality Service at the Lowest Possible Cost |
 |
West Chicago, Illinois: January 11, 2009 – As municipalities strive to meet the ongoing challenges of balancing allocations to meet community needs, the process of budgeting in a tough economy becomes paramount to maintaining expectations of quality services and affordability.
Through strategic planning, communication and citizen outreach, the City of West Chicago has achieved this goal with the adoption of its 2010 Annual Budget, which was approved on December 21, 2009. The budget reflects a continued customer-centric philosophy which prioritizes its commitment to provide quality services at the lowest possible cost. Most significant are the facts that the budget contains no tax or water/sewer rate increases; it totals 2.3% below the 2009 budget; and the City’s operating costs are 7.1% lower than last year.
According to Mayor Mike Kwasman, West Chicago prides itself on being an increasingly progressive community, willing to challenge the status quo and moving toward the cutting edge. “The City of West Chicago has accepted the challenge of continually searching for creative solutions for the delivery of City services. The budget will emphasize policy and procedure reviews to improve the productivity and effectiveness of service delivery to its citizens," he said.
One of the ways this has been accomplished is by a reduction in the City’s workforce by approximately 15% since 2006 through privatization and streamlining operations which have enhanced service delivery to the customer and resulted in cost savings. While a total of 12 positions remain vacant, no personnel additions are included in the approved budget. The most notable increase in the 2010 budget is pension costs for City employees, due to the significant decline in investments. As a way to offset these costs and to help balance its budget, the City plans to defer the purchase of anticipated equipment and vehicles.
Speaking on behalf of the entire City Council, Mayor Mike Kwasman reiterated the City’s core value of assuring a safe, cohesive and dynamic community that is responsive to the needs of both citizens and businesses as it strives for continuous improvement. “The overriding goals of our fiscal planning must be to support the high standards set by the community and provide long-term value at reasonable cost," he added.
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
### |
|
| |
|
| |
 |
| |
| CITY OF WEST
CHICAGO 475 Main Street, West Chicago, Illinois
60185 T - (630)
293-2200 www.westchicago.org |
| |
|
|