NORMAL -- Parents hoping to send their children to Normal Parks and Recreation Department's preschool program next year will need to make other arrangements.

"We are not accepting applications for next year," said department Director Garry Little.

The decision came in the wake of a City Council discussion Monday night on ways to decrease costs and increase revenue to keep the town's reserve fund at a desired level.

One of the cuts supported by the council is the preschool program that serves 88 children.

"It's a good program but it's subsidized to a substantial extent," City Manager Mark Peterson told council members. "It's nice to have but in difficult times, it's logical to look at for elimination."

Normal resident Jim Turner isn't sure that's a wise move, saying "it should be one of the last things to go."

He also opposes the plan to increase property taxes by 4 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation to fund mandated pension costs; preferring the council opt for the more "equitable" increase in sales tax.

The City Council also supports raising the sales tax by a quarter percentage point.

Council member say that despite the proposed property tax hike, the town still has one of -- if not the -- lowest rates of comparable cities. Normal's current rate is 74.3 cents per $100 EAV -- that translates to a tax bill of $371 for the owner of a $150,000 house -- and Bloomington's rate is 99.54 cents per $100 EAV.

Normal's rate also is lower than those in Springfield, Champaign, Peoria and Galesburg.

Normal resident Mary Lucas said the increase in sales tax would have a negative effect on her fixed income.

"I'm on Social Security and don't get a raise," she said. "If sales tax rises, that will put me back."

Robert Barr of Normal, who also is on a fixed income, said he would rather see the town cut staff than raise taxes.

Two of the scenarios presented to the council included major staff reductions. Normal Mayor Chris Koos said the council talked about the concept in a closed-door, executive session Monday but members felt the town was not to that point yet.

"It would have to get a lot worse," he said.

The council did agree to eliminate a fourth fire station from the town's five-year budget. Fire Chief Mick Humer said growth on the far east side of town has slowed considerably over the past couple of years so the town still is in a good position to serve the area, even without the new station.