The DeKalb City Council got a look at the Fiscal Year 2006 budget during their workshop Tuesday night.

The estimated budget for FY 2006 is around $6.7 million, with more than 80 percent of the budget earmarked for “general public improvements.”

City Manager Mark Biernacki said the city is in the second year of its five year capital plan, which ends in 2010.

Administrative Services Director Linda Wiggins described the budget in detail.

The budget covers four areas, she said. They include general public improvement, equipment, vehicles and public building improvement.

Any NIU student concerns about bus routes along Hillcrest Drive to Normal and Garden roads were also addressed in the FY 2006 budget.

“[We plan to] overlay on that stretch of Hillcrest to provide for the buses,” Biernacki said.

Seventh Ward Alderman James Barr, who represents many NIU students, voiced his support for the $35,000 project.

“[This is] very important to myself,” he said. “[And] is not strictly for students – that same bus system provides steep discounts to residents for rides.”

Barr also said 1st Ward Alderman Karega Harris, who was not present Tuesday night, strongly supported the project.

Second Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen does not support the Hillcrest Drive overlay project.

“I’m not in favor of creating new bus routes through the neighborhoods,” he said.

City spending is sometimes offset by grants or budget surpluses.

The city’s capital fund, which contributes to costs in all four areas of the budget, has $320,000 surplus from last year, Wiggins said.

In addition, a $605,000 federal grant, secured through Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s office, will pay the costs of improvements along E. Lincoln Highway, Wiggins said.

Also outlined in the budget was the continued leasing policy toward city vehicle needs.

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan questioned whether the city had ever considered a cost-benefit analysis of the leasing policy.

Wiggins said leasing was necessary for the city to obtain needed vehicles and equipment.

Most communities are leasing, many vehicles are too expensive to buy outright, Wiggins said.

“New ambulances are $150,000. The back hoes, the street sweepers, they’re just enormously expensive pieces of equipment,” Wiggins said.

Sixth Ward Alderman David Baker agreed with Wiggins’ assessment.

“Leasing is the only option,” he said.