Budget Survey Will Gauge City Priorities

The City of Evanston is looking to citizens to help identify areas that should be considered priorities in upcoming budget cycles. A survey will be distributed in April asking people to rank city priorities and programs to help determine what spending can be cut or reduced.

Facing budget deficits and growing needs, city officials say they will have to make some tough choices in the near future.

"Evanston is a special place and maintaining a high level of quality of life services is a cornerstone of this city," said City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz at a special city council meeting Tuesday evening. "I believe, however, we must look realistically at the most important services we provide."

Surveys will be posted online in April, and those without Internet access may take it over the phone by calling 3-1-1 or mailing in a paper survey that will run in local print newspapers.

During the citizen comment period, residents expressed their support for various city-supported programs, particularly the Noyes Cultural Arts Center.

Addressing rumors that the city is looking to close down the arts center or the Evanston Ecology Center, Bobkiewicz noted that the city council has not discussed closing them but instead will look into options regarding how to best work with those facilities in the upcoming fiscal year.

"I have had no conversations about closing the Noyes Cultural Arts Center at all," said Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl. "The same is true of the Ecology Center and of the Robert Crown [Center]. ... I have not discussed closing anything."