East Dubuque’s city manager said the city will have a budget shortfall of about $80,000 next fiscal year if a tax increase isn’t approved by voters in March. Loras Herrig said that would continue a worrying trend of annual deficits. In fiscal year 2017, the city had a budget deficit of $80,000, and it was $70,000 the following year. In fiscal year 2019, it shot up to about $321,000 due to increased engineering costs for wastewater treatment plant improvements. It is projected at about $78,000 for this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
