Politics & Government
Palos Hills Council Approves Final Budget, Swears In Re-elected Aldermen
The Palos Hills City Council passed a balanced budget on Thursday night, but warned that future budgets could involve serious cuts if municipal distribution of state tax is reduced or terminated.
Budget: Alderman A.J. Pasek (3rd Ward), chair of the Finance Committee presented a balanced budget on Thursday night that totaled $7,011,592, but said in the future that might not be easy to do.
“Hopefully the state doesn't discount or discontinue [] or we're going to have to have a really big meeting and discuss a lot things because I've gone through this in my mind … there is a lot of stuff that will have to take place at that time,” he said.
Pasek went on to say that 10 years ago he had suggested “making some cuts, around 10 percent that would've been painless, but if it happens now it will be painful for a lot of people in all the departments.”
Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Bennett thanked Pasek for his work on the budget, but took exception to the comment that the city could have done more.
“The majority of growth in this budget has been health insurance costs and [unfunded] pension increases,” Bennett said. “Our biggest problems have been ones that are out of our control. We've done what we needed to and should have in the past and will do the same in the future.”
Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Aldermen Martin Kleefisch, Mary Ann Schultz (5th Ward) and Mark Brachman (2nd Ward) all spoke to say that they thought Bennett did an excellent job as a fiscal leader for the city and Kleefisch also thanked city employees who have “maintained service levels” despite cuts.
Sworn In: The city swore in it's recently re-elected alderman, all of whom were incumbents and ran unopposed.
Alderman Martin Kleefisch retained his seat in the first ward along with Pauline Stratton (2nd ward), Bill Hanson (3rd Ward), Joseph Marrotta (4th ward) and Frank Williams (5th Ward).
Each will serve four-year terms and received congratulations and praise from fellow aldermen and Mayor Gerald Bennett.
“As it has been for the past 30 years, my hand is extended to work together to make this a better community,” said Bennett. “We have good times and bad times and unfortunately I think in the near future, [due to the economic climate] we will be facing some more tough times.”
