New budget options to prevent Elgin fire service cuts don t sway enough councilmen
The Elgin City Council discussed several budget cutting options Wednesday to avoid affecting service at Elgin Fire Station 6 at 707 W. Chicago St. but didn t vote for them. Rick West | Staff Photographer
Posted2/25/2021 5:05 AM
After hearing three new options to cut $430,000 to balance the 2021 budget, the Elgin City Council voted 6-3 in favor of moving forward with a previous plan to change service at Fire Station 6.
Council members Corey Dixon, Baldemar Lopez and Tish Powell were the three dissenters in the preliminary committee-of-the-whole vote.
With pandemic-related budget shortfalls projected, city officials had previously asked firefighters to forgo their contractual 2.5% salary increase in exchange for having one year added to their contract, which expires in 2021. City administrators said nonunion Elgin employees and managers have foregone raises, helping to