Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – There have already been several hearings for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget plan. From proposals to budget cuts and even moving funds to other projects around the city, the hearing process has almost come to completion.

The final hearing for the budget will be next Thursday, the 22. Once this meeting adjourns, it will be time for Aldermen and Alderwomen to sit down and make final decisions on the allocation of funds and where cuts should be made. Some areas that are seeing budget changes, whether an increase or decrease, include animal control and the nineteenth street railroad tracks being re-routed.

Alderman Brad Carlson spoke on the WTAX Morning Newswatch about what the main adjustments and changes we will see in the new year’s budget. Carlson spoke about the budgets current standing, the little areas that will likely see changes, and even talked about some bigger changes as well.

In regard to the budget’s current standings, Carlson said “It might be a bit top heavy right now, but this is why we have these budget hearings. This is why we have the different departments make their case, after the three meetings, our final one being next week on the twenty second, will give us aldermen and women time to sit down, and make those necessary cuts.”

Of course, there is plenty of room to adjust the budget. However, it does seem like the smaller budgeted areas may see the most changes.

“At some point you always look at small things, whether it’s from telecommunications or some travel. I mean there may be some bigger asks once in a while on various office equipment and things like that. But, at the same time, when you have a number of departments and divisions, the small things add up. I think we’re gonna get there I really do,” said Carlson.

There was also talk about building and reshaping things within the community. Such as moving the 19th street tracks and routing the two trains per day that frequent these tracks to a different route. Then removing the tracks to replace the tracks with a better alternative for that region.

“There will be a feasibility study, that’s going to be started sometime in May, and we heard last night from the administration  right now there are only 2 trains per day on the 19th street tracks, that’s all part of the high speed rail, for the most part what we heard from wards 2 and 3, that it may just be best to get those tracks out and make it some sort of pathway similar to what we’re going to see on the third street rail. Obviously, we have to see what the residents say and what the railroad folks will want to do here as well,” said Carlson.

The new fiscal year starts March 1, and as of now the corporate fund in the proposed budget is $176.7 million.