Du Quoin cuts 2016 spending $394,000

Fiscal responsibility arrived in the City of Du Quoin Monday night as the mayor and city council placed on public display a 2016 balanced budget with a $158,000 surplus and spending cuts of $394,000.

City Clerk Andrew Croessman walked the council through his work and the work of financial consultant Chuck Novak, finance committee chairman Dan Eaves and members Brice Harsy, Tyson Tanner, Chuck Smith, Novak and finance commissioner Dale Spencer.

The very detailed plan that has consumed weeks of work calls for realistic revenues of $8.14 million and spending of $7.89 million.

Croessman said the budget brings all of the city's finances under a disciplined umbrella, sets realistic goals and requires each department to adhere to both earmarked responsibilities and spells out their discretionary spending. He said the city currently has a cash reserve, all told, of $1.06 million and he wants a cash reserve of $3.42 million in six months. He said it behooves commissioners and department heads to watch payroll and overtime closely.

Alongi and Spencer thanked everyone for their hard work. Alongi added, "This is one of the tightest and best thought-out budgets in decades as we see lean and mean numbers next year."

Several stories will come out of the meeting over the next few days including the mayor's plan for a complete overhaul of the city's liquor ordinance, housekeeping with respect to employee residency, two recommendations from the zoning board, construction of a handicapped access ramp to a new gun shop on Main Street, sale of a surplus lot to Alan Porter, approval of a $10,000 stipend to the airport board, and a slightly larger pay differential for police sergeants and fire captains. Those agenda items will be broken down into separate stories starting in Wednesday's edition.