I wonder if the Board of Trustees has looked at other communities to see what they are doing to balance their budgets. Hinsdale has eliminated 20% of their positions in the last two years. Who can tell us how many Clarendon Hills has eliminated? It is my understanding we are currently in the process of replacing those who have resigned? Is that true? We are opposed to home rule and you can see why by visiting our website:
Voice of Clarendon Hills
https://sites.google.com/site/vochbd/

Part I - Your comment Mr. Wich suggests that the Village of Clarendon Hills does not have a balanced budget. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike the federal and Illinois governments, local villages are required by law to maintain a balanced budget each year. I will let Hinsdale speak for itself, but Clarendon Hills has been and will continue to be a lean, friendly and fiscally responsible Village. For the first few years of the economic downturn, the Village focused on cutting costs and finding ways to do without. As it became clear that there is no great recovery coming, we moved our sights on figuring out what the “new normal” would be. Since 2008, the Village has been able to eliminate $1.1 million in expenditures and defer an additional $900,000. However, when it comes to maintaining things such as basic services, roads and equipment, costs cannot be deferred indefinitely. Additionally, the Village has little control over many of its costs, e.g., state mandated pension benefits that are dictated to us by Springfield. Despite these constraints, the Village is working toward a business model that is both functional and sustainable in our new economic reality.

Tom Karaba, Village President

Part II –
The Village of Clarendon Hills has taken numerous steps to reduce its overall staffing levels and focus resources with the Village’s core services. Overall Village staffing levels are now below what they were in 1992 and among the lowest in the area on a per capita basis. Mr. Wich is again wrong by suggesting otherwise. A 20+ year employee in Public Works retired in December and will not be replaced. Instead, a ¾ time employee was moved to a full-time employee and no additional hires are currently anticipated in Public Works. Two years ago, the CHPD had 15 sworn officers on its force and we are currently down three positions, which is simply unsustainable. The Village is currently looking for one new officer to bring the total number of officers up to 13. If we were a home rule community the hiring process would be easier and less expensive. I do not perceive home rule as THE solution to all of the Village’s problems. It is only one factor, together with cutting costs and finding new ways of doing business that will ultimately assure our excellent financial future.

Tom Karaba, Village President

I hate to see this battle fought at the local level but I am beginning to think it is the only place where we can start to fix our broken economy. This whole thing is being driven by our state’s inability to fund existing pensions and until they solve that problem, our only option is to reduce the workforce no matter how painful that may be. You have to see the big picture in order to understand what has to be done at the local level

Tom Wich is unfortunately 180 degrees BACKWARDS if he believes defeating Home Rule will do anything to help reign in pensions and other problems that craven Springfield power brokers like Mike Madigan and his cronies expect small towns to shoulder while cities big enough to achieve Home Rule though population are exempted.

I would posit that had Mr. Wich and other downtown Clarendon Hills residents / business owners not had the rude awaking of the Village trying to create a special service area for snow removal his judgement would enable him to see that Home Rule will actually allow Clarendon Hills to reduce its reliance on property taxes.

I urge residents to learn the truth about Home Rule at http://HomeRuleClarendonHills.info instead of the misleading fear mongering that others are engaged in.