Elmwood Park officials are taking a wait-and-see approach to the cuts that Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to place on Illinois cities and villages.
Rauner gave his first budget address Wednesday in Springfield and one of his proposals to balance the budget is reducing the amount of cash the state gives municipalities by about 3 percent.
Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano, who was in Springfield during the address, said the cut Rauner’s proposing is pretty substantial and doesn’t believe it will come to pass.
“I don’t see that happening,” he said.
Being a former state representative for many years, he believes that in the end, the budget will look a bit different from what the governor is asking for. He said Rauner’s proposals will probably take on a different look once the budget runs through state representatives and senators for final approval.
Saviano called Rauner’s proposal a starting point. He and other village presidents and mayors who are part of organizations like the Illinois Municipal League plan to use their combined influence to make sure their voice is heard on the budget proposal.
“It’s not finished yet,” Saviano said.