Opinions: Refusing to stand for the flag.
Sports: Masters kicks off golf season.
Sports: Baseball prepares for SIU Cougars.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 76
NICHOLAS EBELHACK/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Student Government Association President Grant Reed (left), Student Member to the Board of Trustees Wil Gradle (center) and Speaker of the Senate Patrick Quinlan speak at the State of the Student Address, “Why We Stay.”
SGA presents State of the Student Speakers answer to why the stay at Western
Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief
The Student Government Association hosted their third annual State of the Student address in the Sherman Hall Auditorium Tuesday afternoon, focusing on the issue of “why we stay,” at Western Illinois University. Pamphlets were handed out with pictures of students and
their experiences at Western to emphasize the focus of the address. SGA President and President elect for 20182019 Grant Reed and Student Member to the Board of Trustees Wil Gradle both shared reasons for why they chose to stay at Western in their individual speeches. “I stayed for the administrative leadership that had made difficult choices that keep
us moving forward,” Gradle said. “I stayed because as a second generation Leatherneck, I wanted to do my part to make this place better for future students.” In his remarks, Gradle spoke predominantly on how progress can be achieved at Western while the school faces challenges, including recovering a state budget impasse that lasted over two years and be-
ing in the midst of prolonged contract negotiations and declining enrollment. “I wholeheartedly believe that our people keep us moving forward,” Gradle said. “But I believe with equal fervor that our greatest liabilities to the university are those who are dead set on holding us back. I understand that it is uncomfortable to talk about the challenges that lay before us, but
progress demands it of us. “It requires restraint, and a willingness to support institutional goals rather than personal ones.” Reed followed Gradle’s remarks by updating the university on SGA’s accomplishments and goals from the last year from his cabinet.
SGA
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Debt service fee increase discussed
Mayor Miken Inman facilitates discussion on debt service fees Monday.
By Steven Barnum assistant news editor
In a short gathering, the Macomb city council continued discussions on next year ’s budget and raising the debt service fee. With several absences on the council, the public hearing for the town’s budget took place on Monday night. City Administrator Dean Torreson recapped to the public that the city of Macomb is expected to take in around $26.5 million in revenue, while expecting to spend around just $25.7 million. These numbers indicate that for the 2018/2019 fiscal year, which stretches from May 1 of this year to April 30 of 2019, Macomb will have a
balanced budget. While there may be a $200,000 deficit in the general fund, Torreson assured that it wouldn’t be as issue; Macomb’s cash balance is expected to be at 28 percent of the budget at the end of next year, which is more than the recommended 25 percent of the budget.
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“This is moving us in the right direction in being fiscally conservative and being good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars.” -Mike Inman
Mayor of Macomb
“We’re forecasting that it will result in a balanced budget in the coming years,” Tor-
reson said. “We should be in good shape.” Mayor Mike Inman thanked everyone who thoroughly worked on the budget over the past few months, and offered his thoughts on the town’s future. “This is moving us in the right direction in being fiscally conservative and being good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars,” Inman said. With the perceived balanced budget, one proposal is that the town put more money into the police and fire department pension. That proposal, along with the rest of the budget’s proposals, could be finalized at next week’s meeting.
Council
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