Galesburg’s Mayor says he open to possible tax increases as well as the staff cuts that have already been proposed, in order to balance the city’s budget.
At a city council work session aldermen did not come to a consensus on staff cuts proposed by city Administrator Todd Thompson.
Alderman Peter Schwartzman stressed that the cuts alone will not address Galesburg’s shrinking tax base.
I think our goal is to provide the best services at the least cost.
He said that he did realize that possibly spending money on development projects when staff may be cut is a sensitive topic.
"Admittedly it's hard to talk that way when we are contemplating personnel cuts, it's difficult, but it's part of a whole package," he said.
Mayor John Pritchard said he supports the suggested cuts, but he’s also willing to look at ways to bring in more money to pay for "certain projects".
"I think our goal is to provide the best services at the least cost, but we also have to be cognizant that the objective is to make Galesburg a good place to live," he said.
The Council did agree not to go forward with planned renovations to a recently purchased building, adjacent to the Street Division on South Henderson Street.
