Moline would make ‘serious cuts’ under Gov. Rauner’s budget proposal

The City of Moline would lose $2.1 million under Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed budget, according to Moline City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher.

On February 18, Rauner proposed cutting more than $6 billion in state spending on universities, health care, local governments and other areas.

Here's how Rauner's budget proposal would directly impact local funding:

Currently, local governments receive 8 percent of the state's income tax revenues, but Rauner's proposal would cut that by 50 percent. For example, last year Moline received $4.2 million from their share of the income tax revenue, but under the proposal, Moline would receive about $2.1 million.

Governor Rauner said the measure would save the state more than $600 million.

Steinbrecher told News 8, "Those funds could not be made up with other sources of revenue so it would result in serious cuts."

That money helps fund the city's police and fire department, public works and the library, Steinbrecher said.

While Steinbrecher said it is unlikely the full $2.1 million would be deducted from one department, it could result in cutting city jobs.

"We have been reducing our staffing levels since 2008, so we are down 45 positions which is over 10 percent of our work force," Steinbrecher explained.

Steinbrecher said he agrees that state legislators need to reduce the state's deficit, but is hopes it won't trickle down to the local government.

"I know that there are currently negotiations underway, so hopefully the severity of the reductions won't be as bad," he added.

Moline will begin their budget process in July, with a vote expected in October.