Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – With a minimum of debate or discussion. the Springfield city council Tuesday unanimously approved a budget for the twelve months which begin Saturday. The corporate fund approaches $200 million.

Ald. Jim Donelan chairs the budget process and speculates as to why there was neither much resistance nor any real attempts to change the initial proposal. “I applaud the mayor and the departments in taking the time to get the budget to us two months before we need to pass it,” Donelan told WTAX News after Tuesday’s meeting. “We had ample time to go through it. We had numerous hearings with the departments, but, if you wanted, you could meet with the individual departments and / or the mayor or budget director and talk about specifics.”

Donelan also took the opportunity to brag about public safety, with the city having built three new fire stations, a net gain of one.

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