On November 6, 1996, the Journal Star reported, “Peoria County voters approved a quarter-cent public safety sales tax Tuesday to pay for jail and warning siren improvements. With 96 percent of precincts in, the measure had 61 percent of the vote. The tally was 37,194 for the tariff and 24,047 against.” The tax went into effect January 1, 1998, and was expected to generate $3.3 million every year.
I wonder how many of those voters would have voted for that tax if they knew then what we know now: it apparently only applies to that part of Peoria County outside the City of Peoria’s corporate limits.
The City Council tonight deferred for one month a request to purchase a new Outdoor Warning System control system for $160,008.15. Why wouldn’t this system be paid for by the County out of that public safety tax? That’s what the City Council would like to know. According to City staff, the county won’t pay for it because the County Administrator said they won’t.
That’s right. Even though the City has almost 62% of the County’s population (112,907 City residents out of 182,328 total residents for the County), and we’re all paying the .25% County Public Safety Tax every time we buy any general merchandise in the City, the County thinks they shouldn’t have to use that revenue to purchase a new control system for our warning sirens, even though we live in Peoria County — even though that was the stated purpose of the tax when it was approved by the voters.
So, all of us City dwellers are already paying for warning sirens, but that money is only being spent by the County Board outside our city limits. Thus, we’re being asked to pay $160K more for the same service within our city limits!
Frankly, that’s an outrage. The City of Peoria is part of Peoria County, and we should be getting the services we’re paying for. We’re not. And it’s not just the warning sirens.
Remember the other thing the public safety tax was supposed to pay for? Warning siren improvements and…. A new county jail. Right. And in addition to City of Peoria residents paying the public safety tax for that, Peoria Police have to pay the County a booking fee of $20 for every inmate they want to house in that jail — the jail that we helped pay for! This last came up in the summer of 2005 when Randy Oliver suggested the City stop paying said fee. Well, we’re still paying it.
Enough is enough. Either city residents should get to stop paying the public safety tax, or we should get some benefit from it. But the current system is broken.
I encourage all of my readers to contact their County Board representative — or all the County Board members, if you want — and ask them to start providing the City the services it deserves for the money we’re paying in sales taxes for public safety. Here is a link to the County Board members and their contact information.
C.J.
Dig into this issue.
You might find some interesting things with the city and county relations.
C. J.,
Thanks for the email today. I didn’t watch the council last night but I find it strange that County Board members weren’t asked about this in advance of the meeting. As I told you I didn’t get past Luciano’s comments in the JS today about delivering news in a “fair and respectful manner”. I understand he is a teacher. That helps explain why so many kids have no respect for their teachers or their community.
When the County Executive committee meets tommorrow afternoon at 4 pm (you are all invited, it’s open to the public) but you won’t see us posturing on TV. Also strange because I was at a meeting today attended by three council members and I talked with them and none said anything to me except George J.,who I voted for today; we talked about about the City and County designated reps. meeting very soon. George and Bill S. represent the City and Bud Sou and I represent the County.
Expect relationships between the city and county to improve over the next 2 years.
Sandberg, who I heard led the attack on the county again, loves the TV and other Media to use as his bully pulpit. I try to get all the facts before I speak. Only thing Gary has ever said to me that was meaningful that he would always do everything in his power to NOT work with the County.
Read my blog tomorrow eve or Friday and I’ll have as much info as available. As a board member, I represent all who live in the county but I can’t answer something until I have all the correct info.
I had heard nothing about this until three hours ago.
Merle,
When did I say “he would always do everything in his power to NOT work with the County” ? Date? Place? Circumstance?
I remember a couple years ago saying I WAS TOTALLY COMPLETELY IMPHATICALLY NOT INTERESTED IN CONSOLIDATING THE ELECTION COMMISSION with the partisian COUNTY CLERK and the CITY TAX $$$$$$$$ that you wanted to consolidate at the County until many other “re-aligning” of programs and services that are the responsibility of County Government and NOT the CITY be agreed to, but that is as far as I can stretch your “bully pulpit” into reality.
Just figure out why it is OK or HOW IT WAS DETERMINED for the COUNTY to expend PUBLIC SAFETY TAX DOLLARS for emergency warning devices in the COUNTY BUT NOT THE CITY when the majority of PUBLIC SAFETY TAX DOLLARS COME FROM RETAIL SALES IN THE CITY.
Gary,
I’ll refresh your memory. It was after your protest on the council floor and while you were talking to a TV audience when you stated “the County has been screwing the City out of $500,000.00 on the GIS and Booking system.”
After the meeting, which I attended you stated to me that you would never work with the County because the County always screwed the City. I asked for instances and you stated “back in 1982 the County wouldn’t cooperate on the Humane Society project and in 1986– at that point I cut you off and said “Youre talking about incidents 20-23 years ago. I’ve been on the board since 1999. Let’s start at that point. You then brought up the unfairness of the Booking fee and GIS. I said I would look into this. I did and posted on my blog within 2 weeks. I will not say you were wrong but you lost your debate with your own peers who approved the continuation of both programs because both programs were evidently deemed fair to both the City and the County. The City particpates in both programs today. Evidently there is enough satisfaction on boths sides to continue working together on both programs.
I do not want to battle with you on the web. Come to our County Board meeting which are all open to the public and explain your position so the whole board and our Administrator can answer your complaints. I am just on of 18 County Board Members. I remind you, we are not on TV.
In regard to C.J.s comments I advise that all us city people not get our knickers in a bind. I said on this site I am researching statements made on the Cdity Council floor and when I have completed my research, I will post my findings on my own blog site for all to view and comment.
Just be “fair and balanced”!!!
…munches popcorn…
When is the next full meeting of the Peoria County Board? If it’s on a Monday or ends before 2 p.m., I might just attend.
Ah, Bill, you know when the County Board meets. Nothing has changed in 7 years. It’s the 2nd Thursday of every month. We start at 6 pm and are usually out of there by 8 pm.
Fourth floor – County Courthouse – County Board Room. Sorry, no TV but you need to pass thru security.
Have you changed your email address or aren’t you replying to me?
Best Regards
Merle: My Tuesday’s are spent covering the city council.
And just click on my name in the comment to send me email. I haven’t received anything you in a while.