archives

Feb 8, 2008
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

"From Jan. 1 to Feb. 4, the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation had spent $14.1 million of an $18.5 million snow removal budget that’s supposed to last all year. The spending includes $4 million for labor and overtime; $3 million for fuel and vehicle maintenance and $7 million for salt. When the cost of this week’s major storm is factored in, the snow removal coffers are likely to be empty. Last year, the city spent $33.2 million on snow removal during a winter nowhere near as brutal as this one has been. The mayor’s 2008 budget was precariously balanced with $276.5 million in taxes, fines and fees, including the largest property tax increase in Chicago history."

Too much government incompetence behind our national & local problems recently. Yes, there used to be acceptable levels of mistakes :-) Brilliant to be able to claim the massive Chicago budget is "balanced", while only allotting $18.5M for snow removal services-- when last year realized $33.2M in snow- related spending (not including expensive roadway damage due to salt, ice & machinery)!! OMFG

-->By the way, it's a real bitch to continue to accept prop tax increases-- resulting from short- sighted assessment data & antiquated rolling avg practices. This, at a time when REAL prop values are sinking like stones & homeowners can't sell for what they paid four years ago.