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Joliet budget debate centers on hiring, events staffing and costly 2016 health insurance deal
Summary
Councilmembers disagreed over proposed 2026 budget additions — including a special-events manager and other staff — and sparred over a long-term 2016 health-insurance contract that staff said contributes to rising costs; staff said union negotiations and plan changes are producing some savings.
A heated discussion of the proposed 2026 fiscal-year budget dominated the City of Joliet’s Dec. 15 pre-council meeting as councilmembers questioned new staffing requests and wrestled with the budget impact of a long-term health insurance contract adopted in 2016.
City Manager Beth said proposed hires include an events manager and staff to professionalize permitting and citywide event coordination, improvements she said are needed to avoid last-minute requests and to ensure appropriate public-safety planning and permit fees cover costs. ‘‘We are gonna start maintaining our public works ... and we are gonna be implementing a permitting system that people fill out,’’ Beth said, arguing the changes…
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