Monthly Archives: November 2006

City Council, City of Peoria

Winner of “Most Ill-Timed Revenue Proposal”: Van Auken’s 5% Utility Tax Idea

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The Journal Star reported Thursday that Second District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken has an alternative plan to a property tax increase:

Another option for raising revenue comes from Van Auken, who wants to replace the $6-a-month garbage fee with both a 5 percent utility tax and 5 percent franchise fee on water bills.

“My goal in this budget is to get adequate police and fire protection for the 2nd District and to replace the garbage tax with a source that is more fair and equitable,” Van Auken said. “I want to see where my colleagues are on it. The mayor and I have discussed it, and he has spoken favorably of the idea because it spreads the cost throughout the community – not just the residents who pay the garbage tax and not just the residential and commercial, as it is with the property tax.”

I appreciate “outside-the-box” thinking as much as the next guy, but honestly, I can’t think of a worse time to suggest this revenue-raising idea. Surely Van Auken is aware that electricity rates are going up 55% in January. Is proposing the city tack on another 5% a good idea right now?

I’m going to guess that the logic behind this is that, since it would apply to not-for-profits, businesses, and residents, the cost would be spread out more and thus, coupled with the 5% franchise fee on water bills, this whole plan would be cheaper for residents than the current $6 per month garbage fee. Maybe, but I’m not buying it until I see the numbers — with and without not-for-profits included.

Why without not-for-profits? Because we all know the chances of a tax on not-for-profits passing are about 10,000 to 1. Every health-care provider, every church, every fine arts organization, every college and university, and every charity — to name just a few of the institutions affected — will be out in force to put the kibosh on that idea. Of course, there will be exceptions, but I predict if this idea starts being pushed, the push-back will be enormous and the city will back down.

I’ve e-mailed Ms. Van Auken asking for clarification on her plan; when she writes back, I’ll post her response as a follow-up to this post.

Peoria Park District, Peoria Public Schools

Reminder: Keep Dec. 13 open for the big Glen Oak meeting

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As I was reading the Peoria Park District Board’s minutes from their Oct. 18 meeting, it reminded me to mark Dec. 13 on my calendar for the big Glen Oak Park/School discussion:

Trustee Allen requested an upcoming agenda carry a discussion for review of the non-binding Letter of Intent with District #150 on the proposed school in Glen Oak Park. Particularly, what a school site would do to Glen Oak Park Lagoon, Amphitheatre, Tri-Centennial Playground and the Zoo.

Trustee Cummings weighed in on the discussion, noting questions he has concerning cost of new school construction and the site plan, and hearing the arguments of residents.

President Cassidy stated promise made to neighbors about notifying them of any discussions material to the school issue. Perhaps a larger venue will be needed to accommodate the number of attendees. President Cassidy suggested the meeting be held at Glen Oak Primary School
Gymnasium.

TRUSTEE ALLEN MOVED TO HAVE THE DECEMBER 13, 2006 PARK BOARD AGENDA CARRY A DISCUSSION OF THE NON-BINDING AGREEMENT REGARDING THE BUILDING OF A SCHOOL ON OR NEAR GLEN OAK PARK. STAFF WILL NOTIFY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS BY MAIL OF THE MEETING. Motion seconded by Trustee Cummings and carried on
unanimous voice vote. (Results: 5 Ayes; 0 Nays)

All together now: It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

General News

Obama just another partisan politician after all

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Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us — the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of “anything goes.” Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America.

–Barack Obama, 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address

Today we write to urge your attention to one race in particular. Our friend, Todd Stroger, former state representative and alderman is candidate for president of the Cook County Board. Please consider voting for Todd…. Todd is a good progressive Democrat, who will bring those values and sensibilities to the job.

The same can not be said of his opponent, a conservative Republican, who has sided with the NRA and against our police by opposing a ban on the military style assault weapons favored by gangs and drug dealers. He also is a long and avowed opponent of reproductive rights. The County board president has discretion to end reproductive health services, which would deny poor women their basic rights. We’ve come too far for that.

–Barack Obama with Dick Durbin, 2006 endorsement of Cook County Board presidential candidate Todd Stroger

Hat tip: Eric Zorn

Peoria Journal Star, State of Illinois, Voting

Poll results and the future of polls

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According to the Journal Star’s midday update, the latest poll numbers for governor are as follows:

  • Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) — 44%
  • Judy Barr Topinka (R) — 40%
  • Rich Whitney (G) — 7%
  • Undecided — 9%

The margin of error for this poll (provided by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research) is ±4%, so the front runners are in a “statistical dead heat.”

I got to thinking about these polls…. Peoria County Clerk JoAnn Thomas has stated that 1,500 people have already voted in the county (not including the city) — that’s roughly 3% of the total registered voters in the county (approx. 50,000). If that’s the trend statewide, that’s a significant percentage. In contrast, Mason-Dixon polled 625 “likely voters” out of 7.3 million registered voters in Illinois.

So, the question is, how long do you think it will be before we start seeing polls of early voters instead of likely voters? If there are enough early voters to make the sample statistically diverse enough, couldn’t you just see pollsters calling an election before election day even arrives? I think it’s just a matter of time.