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Some Surprising Numbers

My mayoral opponent has been beating the drum of "they're spending too much money" almost since the day he left office in May 2005. There was a reasonably well drawn cartoon in the Examiner, showing dollars flying out of the top of the Observation Tower, and lying around on the ground. To my opponent, I'm certain, that was meant to show that we were throwing money around like there was no tomorrow. To me, it showed that we were bringing more money in. Go figure.

Well, I have some important news for my opponent, his followers, and everyone else in the Village of Peoria Heights. When comparing how much was spent, to how much was generated in revenue (the only fair way to judge spending, what with inflation, etc.), my opponent oversaw more spending, percentage-wise, in his last 4 years than I have in the past 3.That's right. I'll say it again. "When comparing how much was spent, to how much was generated in revenue, my opponent oversaw more spending, percentage-wise, in his last 4 years than I have in the past 3." And, it's true.

I hate to burden you with numbers, but they're a necessary evil in this case. Figures don't lie (for the most part), and they certainly don't lie here.These numbers are gleaned from the budgets and the audits performed from fiscal year 2001-2002 to fiscal year 2007-2008 (the latest we have).From fiscal year 2001-2002 to fiscal year 2004-2005 (the last one under my opponent), the Village revenues totalled $10,573,803.00. The expenditures for the same period totalled $10,239,130.00. Again, this is over a 4 year period. The net result? 96.83% of the revenues received were spent.From fiscal year 2005-2006 (my first) to fiscal year 2007-2008 (the latest we have), our revenues have totalled $8,816,669.00. Our expenditures have totalled $8,466,338.00. Again, this is over a 3 year period, because we only have audits for these three years. The net result? We have spent 96% of the revenues generated.

Isn't that something? The guy who has been pounding the drum for nearly three years about how we are "spending the Village into the Stone Age" actually oversaw more pumping out of the dollars than I have. Now, let me clear something up. I don't think that a proper measurement of how good a mayor and a board of trustees are doing is how much they're putting "into the bank." We already have three fine banks in the Heights. We are here TO GET THINGS DONE. At the best price possible, but mostly TO GET THINGS DONE. And yet, somehow, my opponent feels that we've been spending too much on silly things like: curbs, sidewalks, police squad cars, fixing roads, alleviating drainage problems, marketing, brightening up Christmas... you know, silly things like that.

The point is this: I guess he wanted as much money put away as possible, because... just in case he might get back in, well you know, that Streetscape was going to cost at least $5 million dollars...But, in the end, here it is: he oversaw more spending. Period. I guess what we have to make clear is that there is a huge difference between he and I as to what we wanted (and want) those Village general funds to be spent ON.