$8 million in revenue increases from prior fiscal year
Thaddeus M. Jones, mayor of Calumet City, introduced a balanced $53 million fiscal budget to the Calumet City City Council for passage. The presentation also illustrated $8 million in revenue increases from the prior fiscal year.
“I am honored to present this fiscal budget that includes groundbreaking accomplishments from the prior year. For the first time in our city, we were blessed to witness over $8 million in revenue increases from the prior fiscal year. Our business community increased by 15 percent, with the addition of over two hundred new companies. But moreover, there are no tax increases in this budget” said Jones.
Jones expressed gratitude to City Treasurer Gerald Tarka, Alderman DeJuan Gardner, City Administrator Deanne Jaffrey, and Mr. John Kasperek in preparing the balanced budget.
He added, “I am excited that our proposed budget addresses a variety of issues and potential challenges impacting our residents. This budget will allow us to not only fulfill the obligation we have to our residents and youth, but we now can aggressively capture this once in a lifetime opportunity to transform our city for the better.”
The mayor credited effective fiscal management, business community growth, housing initiatives and reduction in city expenditures as components of the balanced budget.
This year’s budget focuses on assisting Park of River Oaks Condos owners after the devastating fire. The city also established the CC-RAP program that provided up to $500 in gas and grocery cards to residents; nearly five thousand residents were served.
Mayor Jones’ budget included funding for free mental health counseling for residents and city employees and a mental health program for Police and Fire personnel. In addition, the mayor included funds for an afterschool program at the Calumet City Library.
Budget highlights include, but are not limited to:
- Revenues were increased overall by $8 million – $53 million from last year’s $45 million budget (that is an increase of nearly $20 million in revenue in two years)
- The number of businesses increased from 413 in 2021 to 628 businesses in 2022, a 15 percent increase in businesses coming to Calumet City
- The city secured nearly $49 million in State and Federal grant funds for roads, streets, and the Calumet City Library with plans for an aggressive grant writing plan to secure funding
- Revenue wise, the current administration’s special legal counsel collected nearly $500,000 in unaccrued revenues
- Reduced legal fees by $500,000 from the previous administration
- Reduced city expenditures, including Public Works by $300,000, of which $150,000 was in overtime alone
- To comply with the Firefighter minimum staffing, overtime was reduced from last year’s $1.3 million by $500,000 in the Fire Department to coincide with the hiring of new firefighters
- Hired nine of the approved 17 police officers with plans to hire an additional 10 officers in 2023. Also implemented both Police Bike Patrol and ATV Patrol as part of Calumet City’s Neighborhood Safety Program. Budget reflects plans to hire 15 additional police officers and 10 additional firefighters for safer neighborhoods
- Worked with Governor Pritzker, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cook County Emergency Management, Senator Durbin, and Senator Duckworth to secure nearly $15 million in aid to Park of River Oaks Condo residents through the Small Business Association (SBA)
- Reduced health care costs by $350,000
- Established our CC-RAP; resident assistance program that provided nearly $250,000 in assistance to five thousand Calumet City residents with gas and grocery cards
- Employed 27 Calumet City youth at various locations in Calumet City government via the Summer Youth Hiring Program
Calumet City’s economic development plan recognizes the importance of investing in specific areas, communities, and programs to uplift those who have been disenfranchised for over 20 years.
The mayor presented the proposed budget to the full Calumet City City Council on Wednesday during a Special Budget meeting.
