Story Published:
Jul 7, 2008 at 5:37 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 7, 2008 at 7:57 PM CST
It could be a difficult budget year for the city of Peoria. Mayor Jim Ardis says the city council could have their work cut out for them this year.
Ardis says several issues will make the budget a challenge, including rising health care prices and the massive combined sewer overflow project.
The sewer project is designed to reduce Peoria's sewer overflows to the Illinois River—and will cost between 100 and 200 million dollars.
The Mayor says the city is also starting the period with a 'budget deficit' of three to five million dollars.
"It's really just the cost of doing business in the city. Over 80 percent of our budget goes to the salaries of our employees–and there's just not a whole lot of discretionary funds after that," said mayor Jim Ardis.
On top of the other issues, Peoria's Mayor says gas prices are also having an effect on the bottom line.
