PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Peoria Heights Board of Trustees is looking into how to create a fully-staffed fire department while balancing the village’s budget.
The board voted to make its volunteer-based fire department fully staffed last year, setting up for one of the Heights’ biggest increases in expenses. The proposed budget for the village includes $4.6 million in expenses, an increase of 22-percent over last year.
Peoria Heights must pass its budget by May 1, when the new fiscal year begins.
The village has seen a budget surplus several years in a row, but in a Facebook post on Feb. 29 the board said that all of their additional spending would eat up any surplus “and then some.”
A special meeting of the village board is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall.
At a Board of Trustees meeting on March 5, new Fire Chief Dan Decker unveiled plans for at least three experienced firefighters, one for each shift. He also proposed a stipend for volunteer firefighters to encourage them to join the department and limit the need for hiring paid staff.
In years past, Peoria Heights has spent $400,000 on fire departments and protections.
In order to increase revenue, village trustees have discussed raising the sales tax in the Heights, which stands at 8.25% with 1.5% going to the village, according to 25 News.
They’ve talked about ending a garbage pickup subsidy. Right now, the village covers half the cost. Removing the subsidy would add about $265,000 back into the budget.
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