Chants of “no more tax” could be heard from a small group of protesters outside the DeKalb Municipal Building on Monday night before the city council meeting began.

“This will be a town that people just drive through to get gas in Sycamore,” said Anna Ciciora, vice-president of the Road Ranger gas station on Sycamore Road. “[The 2-cent increase in gasoline tax] will put people out of business.”

The council passed the DeKalb city budget for fiscal year 2003-’04 without implementing the recommended .5 percent increase in home rule sales tax, the 2 percent increase in restaurant and bar tax or the 2 cent increase in gasoline tax.

Mayor Greg Sparrow recommended that amendments be made after a series of public meetings to be held in July and August to obtain residents’ input about the taxes. The deadline for final changes to be made to the budget was set for the city council’s first meeting in September.

The budget leaves a deficit of $1.4 million to be financed from the $3.2 million reserve.

“We have a long-term revenue problem,” said 7th Ward Alderman James Barr, who supported the increase in home rule sales tax. “We’ve seen the fund balance of this city drop to half in the last two fiscal years.”

Fifth Ward Alderman Patrick Conboy supported the raise in restaurant and bar tax because he said people who could afford to eat out could withstand the tax hike.

Barr did not support the increase because, he said, “A lot of people are forced to fast food due to hectic life.”

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan said it was interesting that gasoline prices are cheaper in Rockford than in DeKalb, and that he would like to hear the reason why.

Residents present at the meeting suggested other means of revenue, such as DeKalb city vehicle stickers and a tobacco tax to relieve the burden of the budget deficit.

Kapitan suggested that the council discusses eliminating the $60,000 spent annually on a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He also said the city should limit staff salary increases to inflation rates, which are about 2 percent.

The council passed a resolution eliminating parking on Crayton Circle and Hillcrest Drive between Normal Road and Fox Hollow East.

SA Director of Governmental Affairs Adam Novotney said the council’s decision to vote on an issue that affected students directly while most of them were not around was a “conscious effort to subvert the democratic process.”

Garden Road resident Andy Small pointed out that people preferred parking on Garden Road than in parking lots behind Barsema Hall and Anderson Hall because of convenience. He was opposed to the idea of installing parking meters because he said it would be unfair to the residents in the area.

Novotney suggested that parking remain from College View South to Lucinda Avenue and from Barsema Hall North to Hillcrest Drive.

The decision about parking on Garden Road was postponed until aldermen and NIU student representatives have a chance to discuss the issue and reach a compromise.