CICERO -- Town of Cicero councilors and democratic town supervisor Judy Boyke don't have long to come to an agreement on a new budget. A special budget meeting is scheduled for 1 pm on Sunday and both sides say the current proposed 14 % tax increase is unacceptable. Republican councilor and incoming supervisor Jim Corl Jr. says Boyke's current plan for a 2.7% tax increase is filled with flaws. Corl says it would "cut the essential services for police, for paving, also raided the fund balance. these are issues we're going to be dealing with going into next year."
Boyke attended a Friday morning press conference by Corl and other councilors. After Corl and other councilors made their case, Boyke spoke out.
"I am sick and tired of being blamed," said Boyke to the small crowd of neighbors.
Boyke supports a 2.7% tax increase and says her plan "has been proposed, has no reductions that would hurt anyone in this town. The police department remains intact."
Frustrated neighbors grilled both sides at the press conference. Many said any tax increases in Cicero are a hard sell, especially after the town wide property reassessment.
"My home in particular and others in our neighborhood went up between 100 and 300 percent so we're already paying increased taxes and we just can't afford any more," said Cicero resident Susan Ensminger.
Others said they were losing confidence in the town's elected officials.
"Like what I tell my kid - I don't care what you do with your money but when you want my money, I want to know what you're going to do with it. And I'm leaving here today and I have no idea what they're doing with my money," said Cicero resident Bob Oakes
Corl and Boyke said councilors will continue to work on a budget agreement right up until the Sunday afternoon meeting.
