Why should residents face a 10-15% tax increase?

Twice we have had budget hearings - and twice staff has asked for direction with no answer from city council members.  That is what is the bottomline tax increase and budget growth they want us citizens to live with this year?

What has staff presented so far?  

•  5% property tax increase to the base line budget - that is this is not even up for discussion it is   already built into the numbers. 

•  A $2.8 million short fall in the budget ( that is after the 5% property tax increase) which they have not fiqured out were to get funding

• No discussion of the pension fund issues so far - but it is very likely to be getting worst given the market we are likely to now owe more than the $145 million ( they claim this will be discussed in january when they get the numbers. 

• Now a short fall in water bills - why? Price and rain - clearly people do not want to water lawns and the weather the last two summers have been wet ( gobal warming predicts Evanston will experience alot more rain) Short fall about $3 million a year.  By the way capital costs are not what is driving this increase - staff is using that to political jusitiy the large increases. Several of the projects appear questionable and one shows the city did not do their homework with all the downtown development.Interesting enough the council has used excess water and sewer funds in previous years to fill in other budget holes. ( that is taxpayers water fees went to non-water items - thus the city manager and city members could claim they only raised property taxes a small percent!)

• Also it appears some of the TIF funds were showing negative problems as well as the insurance fund.

• I am certain there are other screw ups to be found adding to our ever increasing tax burden.

Bottomline : what will be next year's real tax increase on the residents? 10% to 15% is quite possible - and by the way this is outrageous given economic times. But will anyone come to the hearings?