Rushville, IL – Late property taxes and an uncertain state budget led Rushville's mayor to order no unnecessary spending.
Scott Thompson says he's issued a letter to staffers directing only needed spending.
Thompson says if the state were to hold back use-tax payments, the city would be severely affected. He says those tax payments cover a good share of the city's budget.
He also says he's found that payments from the county for property taxes will not be made until November or later.
Thompson says processing by the county has been slowed by changes in the way farmland is assessed.
He says usually the property tax payments come to the city in August or September.
Because of those factors, the mayor ordered all city departments to spend nothing unless absolutely needed.
Thompson faults the governor for not exercising leadership to help legislators reach a budget agreement.
He says having the state spend $16,000 daily on per diem overtime pay ... and $6,000 daily to fly the governor from Chicago to Springfield is "a waste of money."
He says the legislature should reach a budget agreement so cities and towns will know what their budgets will cover.