Park Ridge is considering layoffs, tax hikes and increases in user fees as it works to develop a budget for the coming fiscal year.

In the face of decreasing revenues and increased expenses, Village Manager James Hock drafted a proposed budget that includes the layoff of 17 employees, a 5 percent increase in water rates, sewer fee increases and an increase of 5 percent in the city’s portion of property tax bills, to balance its budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The proposed budget also includes cuts in funding to charitable and community groups.

The mayor, city council and staff are looking at the impact the budget would have on government and residents — and seeking public input throughout March.

“The city council is taking the four Saturdays in March and listening to each department present on their budgets,” said Juliana Maller, assistant city manager. “For example, if there are proposed layoffs in a department, the manager can discuss how they would reallocate resources.”

The city council is scheduled to hear from the library and community groups, which would have their funding cut March 20. On March 27, the council will hear from the public works and finance departments.

The original budget proposal adds one cent per gallon to the gasoline tax and adds a $3-per-month sewer fee, which will be dedicated to ongoing sewer maintenance, which was recommended by the Flood Control Task Force.

The budget proposes eliminating two positions from the city’s administration department, the public information officer and economic development director. From the finance department, proposed layoffs include one full-time and one part-time fiscal tech position. From construction, planning and design, an engineering technician and a zoning enforcement officer are slated to be cut. Three firefighters, four police officers and two community service officers are also proposed for layoffs.

In the public works department, the budget proposes reassigning one maintenance worker to the sewer fund and laying off one maintenance worker, a pump station operator and an administrative assistant. Six other positions which saw layoffs in the 2009/10 fiscal year will not be refilled.

After hearing staff and public input on the proposed layoffs and user fee and tax increases, the city council will meet Monday, March 29, to make additions to or deletions from the proposed budget.

Until that time, the village will not make changes, but simply accept and review comments.

“The city council is just listening at this point,” said Maller.