The Peoria City Council started digging into next year’s budget during a special meeting Tuesday night. The city is facing a more than $6 million deficit.
Possible expense reductions include cutting city jobs, only working on essential road projects and reducing pension contributions for temporary relief. Revenue options could include various tax hikes, raising garbage fees and charging fees for special events downtown.
City Manager Patrick Urich says staff will now craft a budget to propose to council later this month:
“I think everything’s on the table. I think we’ll continue to look at it. I think I got good feedback tonight but, I don’t think there’s a lot of appetite for major service level reductions.”
Urich says other issues - like a possible property tax freeze from the state - could also complicate budget decision for next fiscal year. The Council will then deliberate on the budget throughout November, and has to adopt a spending plan by the end of December.