The Galesburg City Council is searching for revenue to fill in a pension fund gap.
They previously decided in the 2016 budget to fund pensions at 2015 levels but a recommended $1.3 million increase has them looking for more income.
City Manager Todd Thompson tells WGIL that in 2015 the city paid in excess of the minimum the state requires and what the board of pensions actuary recommends.
“But we need to come up with a way to come up with additional revenue in order to make this system functional,” Thompon says. “So we’re not out compliance with what’s required of us statutorily
Fears that the city wouldn’t receive it’s owed state income tax caused the 2016 budget to have a 20 percent decrease although to this point payments have arrived on time.
Still staffing changes were discussed at a work session last night including consolidating Public Works and Community Developments Departments into one.
“This year’s not done yet,” Thompson says. “You can’t say we haven’t done something until the year’s over so come back in January 2017 and we can decide if whether or not we did what we were supposed to.”
Plans are moving forward with one of Thompson’s recommendations to downgrade the Galesburg Recreation Superintendent with the Recreation Supervisor, saving $38,000 according to Thompson.
