Brainerd plan unfocused, unneeded

If the village trustees had presented me with a plan to create a needed, requested performing arts center in Libertyville, I would have expected to see the building cost, projected income and expense numbers that the village stood behind and a justification for the project.

What I have been presented with is an unfocused plan to renovate a building at huge expense with justifications as to what we "might" be able to do with that space.

Income projections presented to me are labeled "not reliable."

This after seven years of planning by the Brainerd Community Center Inc. We "might" have an incubator kitchen, we "might" have a dance studio, we "might" have a day care center, we "might" have a senior citizens center.

We might also have an empty building that we are forced to support because nobody wants to throw $15 million of improvements out the window.

Just because 100 people in this village want to keep that building alive is not reason enough to saddle every single taxpayer in Libertyville with an extra $2,000-plus in taxes.

Make no mistake - this is not a well-researched proposal by Libertyville trustees

This is an unfocused, unsustainable plan proposed by a small group of village residents.

Don't be sucked into raising your own taxes 22 percent. If we need a performing arts center in Libertyville, there are better and cheaper alternatives. Vote no.

Ellen Pomes

Libertyville