Iroquois County has a budget on file, but a lot’s riding on a public safety sales tax in February.
The Board Tuesday compromised on its 2010 budget, voting 16-8 to revise the earlier-proposed numbers and at least, give voters a chance to say Yes or No to a tax before cutting department budgets. Tuesday’s compromise vote approved a $5.1 million budget that still bites into the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Eldon Sprau, with questions about why his department is hit SO hard, still faces the possibility of cutting up to seven people. Several citizens commented about what appears to them to be “an agenda for some board members” and pointing fingers at board members about the risk to public safety.
Board member Jim McCray helped initiate conversation to shift some monies to help departments hit hard. He stressed to the public the need for the public safety tax in February. Former District 4 board member Kathy Ebert knows how important the safety tax. She helped support a similar referendum a few years ago. She says all options have to be explored.
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