Why?
Obviously, the lack of revenues received from the state plays a role. It's had an extremely harmful effect on every community around us, and we certainly have not been immune.
We've been very aggressive in addressing our infrastructure issues. As you've read probably a few more times than you'd like on this blog, the proof is in the pudding. Please read as follows regarding how we have changed the monetary outputs towards curbs and sidewalks in the Heights:
"Here is what was actually spent in the last 4 budget years of the Carter administration on Curbs and Sidewalks:
2005-2006 $3,804.00
2004-2005 $43,014.00
2003-2004 $57,292.00
2002-2003 $9,288.00
Here’s what has been spent on Curbs & Sidewalks in the first 4 years we had control of the budget:
2006-2007 $124,807.00
2007-2008 $154,821.00
2008-2009 $97,589.00
2009-2010 $76,597.00
For a grand total of: $453,814.00."
That's over FOUR times more that was spent on curbs and sidewalks in Peoria Heights since we've had control of the budget.
It truly cannot be made any plainer.
We've also been very aggressive regarding our services provided to the Village. The full time Ambulance Service, which is paramedic certified, is the easy example. But, also the addition of a full-time Ordinance Officer/Building Inspector; the addition of an additional Police Officer, who also spends a good deal of time at our grade school, as the School Resource Officer. The moving of the Police Department to a separate building; scroll through the blog, and there will be a good deal more examples.
But, I also believe this is more fair for us as a Village, and for our citizens, as well. The last thing I wanted to do was to see ANY tax increase in Peoria Heights, particularly during these recession years. However, this is not an increase in property taxes. The proposed increase will bring OUR base sales tax rate to equal Peoria's same... and that's all.
The citizens of Peoria Heights probably spend 80-90% of their disposable income in Peoria, East Peoria, Washington, etc. Mostly because, let's face it, those communities have a much greater variety of the stores that we all mostly buy our goods from. We don't have a Best Buy. We don't have a Target. We don't have a Wal-Mart. We don't have a Kroger. So, whenever our citizens go into Peoria, they pay 8 1/4% sales tax to the City. In the Heights, it is 7 3/4%. But, that smaller sales tax percentage certainly has not brought in a Best Buy; or a Kroger; or a Target to the Heights. No one who lives within a few blocks of the Walgreen's on University is going to hop into his/her car, drive to the Heights Walgreen's, in order to save 18 cents. So, the lower sales tax percentage only costs us revenues; it doesn't give us the "retail edge" that it was hoped it would.
How much more will it cost the consumer who shops in the Heights compared to now?
If you go to Walgreen's and buy $40.00 worth of items, you will end up paying 20 cents more. If you go to one of the restaurants along Prospect, and have a $250.00 bill, you will end up paying $1.25 more. Bear in mind, whatever you end up paying in either of those scenarios, you'd be paying the same amount if you were doing your purchasing in Peoria. Although, you would be paying more at the restaurant, actually, in taxes, in Peoria; as the City has an additional tax amount for restaurants.
This .5% sales tax increase could mean upwards of an additional $250,000.00 a year for the Heights.
If we want to continue to be more aggressive with our infrastructure issues; and making sure that our services remain what they are, if not better; and to make sure that we remain a VIABLE community; then, we have to make certain that our revenue stream is all it can be, particularly in these economically trying times.
No one wants to see ANY tax increase; especially anyone on the Board of Trustees and me. But, to let needed revenues go unclaimed, just BECAUSE, is no longer a smart option. Our services and infrastructure issues are virtually the same as Peoria's... our sales tax rates should be the same, as well.
Do you think some of that tax increase could go towards hiring another detective instead of sidewalks? Twice in the last 9 months I know people in this area who have been robbed (one with an attempted murder ~ in my opinion) and it was the same response both times by the police. They were told there were other ~ obviously more important crimes ~ to be investigated. It is pretty clear with all of this crime needing investigating that maybe another detective would be helpful. I would also like to know how many break-ins have occurred in the last year and how similar they were. The 2 I know of personally seem to be quite similar. Both during the day when they thought no one would be home with electronics and prescription medications taken. I have tried finding information through the internet but it seems no one has taken enough interest except for real estate sites. And that was not a pretty picture with the graphs and all. So personally, I do not think enough is being done to inform the people who live in the area about what is going on in it. One concerned neighbor actually had video surveillance of the crime but she was told by the police officer nothing was going on to be concerned about so she erased it. Shouldn’t she be concerned that her neighbor was robbed and assaulted? Instead she was told she had nothing to worry about. She knows she does now and so do I. Obviously. I opened my door the other day to 2 police cars and an ambulance by my house. Someone was being put in handcuffs and someone else into the ambulance. Do I have any idea if it was something I should worry about? No. I was actually asked by the village council why I don't call the police about certain things? Maybe because in my experience nothing has ever been done about the big things ~ let alone the little ones in the 30 years I have lived here. Drug dealers across the street? Well, call the DEA. We don't have time for it. Then when the idiot overdoses and I am overheard saying “Thank God” I am put in a squad car and questioned as to why I am happy about it? Then another one moved in and everyone knew. No one cared. Just my opinion and experience. Please let me and others know how we can obtain a report of the various crimes and where they occurred in our Village on your blog. I think that would go a long way in keeping us all a little bit safer and aware of what we do need to be concerned about. And then maybe we could make up our own minds about what may be important. Also please consider that we may need another detective since the job appears to be a bit overwhelming of late. Thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteRhonda Billingsley ~ not anonymous ~ I really want to know. Just let me know how.
Rhonda, I'm going to alert Police Chief Sutton regarding your concerns. There is a website called "Crime View" that shows all of the crimes that have occurred in and around Peoria Heights. Here is the website - http://peoria.il.crimeviewcommunity.com/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteI'm a little backwards at navigating internet sites, so if you have difficulty navigating it, contact the police department. The Crime View site has been up for several years. I know that the website has been mentioned at virtually every Neighborhood Watch meeting I've been to over the past six year.
For every complaint I hear about the Police Department, I hear about a hundred positive comments, so I truly believe that the Chief and our Department are doing an outstanding job for us.
I'd be very surprised if you were ever told by any of our officers that we didn't have time to check out a drug house; not saying that you're giving me a story, but I have never heard anyone say the same thing to me in the 6 1/2 years I've been in office. If anything, I've been told that we respond extremely well to those sorts of complaints. Also, have you ever been to a Neighborhood Watch meeting? They are on the last Monday of every month; there is one coming up on Halloween; at Village Hall, at 6:30 p.m. The Chief normally presides over those. Any resident can come and air his/her concerns.
Crimes, unfortunately, are part of the urban landscape. And, we certainly are a part of the urban landscape, much more so than almost every other community of around 6,000 people. I will check into the issues you have mentioned, the crimes you report have been going on around you, and will post information about them when I get the same. Right now, however, the statistics show our crimes are either steady or going down. It's unlikely that we'll add personnel to any of our departments for the foreseeable future; but, if the statistics back up doing it, we will.
Thanks for the information, and we'll be in touch.
Also, just to make certain that I have your correct address, could you e-mail it, and your phone number to me at:
ReplyDeletemarcus57@aol.com
Thanks.
I would like to thank Mayor Allen and Chief Sutton for their prompt response, time, and understanding of my concerns. I also found and,after a bit of a learning curve, was able to use the CrimeView web site. It only goes back 90 days but it was informative. I am having a security system installed and better outdoor lighting. It can't hurt! Thanks again ~
ReplyDeleteRhonda