Peoria County has done another survey that includes a question gauging support for a sales tax to benefit the proposed Peoria Regional Museum:

[A] majority of people who completed the survey also said they are either somewhat or strongly opposed of a referendum supporting the Riverfront Museum project…. Sixty-five percent reported they are somewhat or strongly opposed, while about 35 percent strongly or somewhat support the referendum. County officials say that is consistent with results of a telephone poll conducted earlier this year on the same topic.

But wait! What did county officials say after the last poll?

The survey administrator felt very positive that less than 50% of the respondents were either undecided or do not support a tax increase. In other words, more than 50% of the polled voters would support a tax increase to help fund the Museum Project.

It’s good to see they’ve dropped the positive spin this time.

This issue shouldn’t even be going to a referendum. The museum’s contract with the city has deadlines in it — deadlines they’ve already extended at least once, new deadlines they’re still not going to meet. How much longer are we going to prolong the agony?

If the citizens of Peoria really wanted this museum as proposed they would have financially supported it already. A tax just takes money from the opposed and indifferent. And if we’re going to raise taxes, let’s raise taxes for something we really need, like improved infrastructure.

The city should extend its thanks to the museum group for a valiant effort, but tell them to go back to the drawing board. This plan is dead. If the museum group would like to come up with another plan — urban in design, narrower in scope, and willing to share the block with retail and residential components like every urban planner the city has ever hired has recommended for that block — then the city should definitely entertain the idea.