Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
Harvey is threatening to lay off half of the town’s police and other essential workers, as a growing political conflict escalates in a community long plagued by high crime rates, corruption, and financial instability. Mayor Eric Kellogg’s administration has informed union leaders that significant layoffs are expected soon, affecting police, fire, public works, and water department staff.
For months, Kellogg has been at odds with a majority of the City Council, who argue they are pushing for greater transparency in a town where millions in taxpayer funds have reportedly been lost due to insider deals. One such deal is under FBI investigation, adding to the growing distrust among residents and officials alike.
Under state law, Harvey must pass an ordinance by December 29 specifying how much property tax should be levied — a critical source of revenue for the town. If the council fails to act, the mayor warns, the town will face a severe budget shortfall, potentially leading to deep cuts in services.
Four of the six council members have refused to approve any financial measures, including the tax levy, until they get control of certain oversight committees they previously approved. They argue that without these committees in place, they cannot effectively monitor how public funds are spent — especially after years of questionable financial practices.
“This isn’t the city’s money — it’s the taxpayers’ money,†said Alderman Christopher Clark, one of the four dissenting members. “We can’t just hand over funds without knowing how they’ll be used, especially when there’s a history of misuse.â€
Kellogg, however, claims the council is simply stalling and playing politics, putting the town on the edge of financial collapse. His spokesman, Sean Howard, stated that the mayor wants to avoid layoffs but says the council is responsible for the crisis. He warned that police staffing could drop from 72 to 36 officers, and firefighters from about 40 to 20.
“The mayor supports the tax levy and doesn’t want to cut jobs,†Howard said. “But the four aldermen are blocking progress.â€
The two sides met behind closed doors last Thursday but failed to reach a compromise. The council then voted down the tax levy proposal. On Friday, Alderman Donald Nesbit revealed that his group had proposed a compromise: splitting committee leadership between Kellogg supporters and critics. However, the offer was rejected.
Clark and his allies claim they have a legal basis to control the committees, but Kellogg refuses to allow them to function. Now, they say, the mayor is pushing them to vote on a $15 million tax levy without prior review.
This latest development comes amid ongoing tensions, with council members having previously asked federal and state agencies to investigate potential misconduct by the mayor’s office. A lawsuit is also pending, alleging that the mayor and clerk have kept the council powerless while trying to address questionable spending in a town lacking financial transparency.
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