Tuesday’s public hearing on Springfield’s proposed budget was a trip down memory lane.
Former Ald. Joe McMenamin said the idea of the “underpaid Springfield police officer” is a canard.
“We are on a par,” said McMenamin, picking up where he left off to criticize public safety salaries. “I compare a four-year patrolman and four-year sergeant, but with the contract we voted on without fiscal analysis, now we are at $95,000 a year for a four-year patrolman, and that’s about $10,000 above Peoria, $10,000 above Champaign.”
And former mayor Jim Langfelder had suggestions about the proposed 32 percent water rate increase: “Before water rates are voted on, the city should have an online water rate calculator like the city did when the electric rate billing was restructured. Doing so allows people and businesses to see how the proposed water rate increase will affect their bill and provide true transparency.”
CWLP says a 32 percent increase in water rates this year, and another one next year, are needed to pay for federally-mandated replacement of lead water lines.
Next Tuesday, aldermen will add their amendments and take a final budget vote for the fiscal year beginning March 1.