Accountability

3 stories

How Marengo spends public money. Budget analysis, pension obligations, and fiscal reporting sourced from city documents.

Where Marengo's Police Pension Stands, and Why the Gap Is So Hard to Close

The city has set aside about 47 cents for every dollar it owes in pension benefits. The trend is improving. But a $260K revenue loss just eliminated the extra payments that were closing the gap.

Mar 26

Why Marengo's Water and Sewer Repairs Are So Expensive, and How the City Plans to Pay

More than $25 million in work is needed over the next decade. State grants brought in $3.9 million last year. But the wastewater plant alone needs $5.2 million in urgent repairs, and user fees don't cover operating costs.

Mar 26

The FY26/27 Budget: Flat Revenue, Rising Costs, and a Tax That Disappeared

The budget balances with $3,196 to spare. Health insurance is up 15%. Use Tax revenue fell $260K. And the voter-approved sales tax is finally fixing the roads.

Mar 26

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