Unlike the state’s, the village of Orion’s finances are fine.
“We’re good, we’re in the black,” Village President Jim Cooper said. “We’re not in any kind of budget deficit at all. Our budget is quite limited, and the reason we’re as good as we are is we have Village Clerk Lori Sampson and finance committee members Mel Drucker and Deano O’Leary watching our expenses closely.”
Without any industry in town, Orion’s income is limited, Cooper said. The village relies on property tax and sales tax revenues.
“We would be in a little bit better shape if we could get the funding the state of Illinois promised us,” he said.
The state owes everyone, including school districts and nursing homes, Cooper said.
Orion would like to have the $75,000 the state still has not paid from $100,000 in grants that State Rep. Mike Boland promised in 2006, Cooper said. The village already spent the money on repairing streets and replacing the west ground storage tank.
“Hopefully that money will be forthcoming soon,” he said.
Orion also is waiting on the $10,000 that State Sen. Mike Jacobs promised for work on the Love Park diamond last year.
Jacobs also indicated that if the legislature passed a capital bill, he would help Orion obtain some of the money for sewer work.
“Nothing came of that, either,” Cooper said. “A lot of empty promises.”
Village officials are working on 2010-11 budgets, he said.
“Those will have to be watched, and frugal spending will be a priority,” he said.
