Champaign's finance director says finances have improved as he prepared to step down from the job he's held for 31 years. Richard Schnuer touts the city's AAA bond rating from two agencies, as well as investments in infrastructure and downtown development the past few years. "We just don't throw money at developers without knowing the outcome," he says. 

The Champaign City Council gets its first look at the suggested 2015-16 budget plan Tuesday night.  City staff have been asked to consider potential reductions coming from Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed cuts in state-shared revenues, but there are no specific cuts in this plan.