Will County Gazette

City of Joliet Manager James Capparelli recently discussed various components of the city’s 2023 budget including a request from a fellow council member to add $100,000 to the weed removal and reduction fund.

“We have more than enough revenue to support that request,” Capparelli said at the Nov. 15 council meeting.

He explained the only issue is how to allocate the money properly as it is a new program. The city expects to execute its normal downtown plans and then expand outward and obtain bids so more funding can be part of future budgets.

Capparelli also talked about how the extra $1 million that is being added to the street program will not negatively impact the city as council isn’t taking money from other funds, but rather just putting less into savings. 

The final item about the budget was the sidewalk fund which was funded $250,000 by the city in 2022 plus $500,000 for the sidewalk. It was bumped up to $800,000 total for the 2023 budget. Councilman Larry Hug requested that they transfer an additional $200,000 from the street fund to make it an even million to show that fixing the city sidewalks is a priority, so the council amended that in the budget as well.