Bert Rosenberg: Candidate Profile

Back to Arlington Heights Village Board

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Arlington HeightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Arlington Heights Village Board Age: 65Family: MarriedWife-SandiSon-Michael-38 and wife-Tara, 3 sonsSon-Jonathan-35Occupation: CPA in Public AccountingEducation: B.S. Accounting-Northern Illinois UniversityCPA-Licensed in Illinois Member of American Institute of CPA'sMember of Illinois Institute of CPA'sCivic involvement: Current sitting village trustee-Arlington Heights for over 16 years, originally appointed in November 2000 and then elected for the last 4 termsActive in the Arlington Heights Chamber of CommerceRecipient of the 2008 Arlington Heights Chamber Presidents AwardPresident and Treasurer of the Terramere Homeowners Association for the last 28 yearsFormer coach of youth basketball, soccer and baseball teamsElected offices held: Arlington Heights Village Trustee since November 2000, when appointed for six monthsElected for four terms from May 2001 through April 2017Served on Arlington Heights Environmental Commission for 13 years as a member and chairperson from 1987 to 2000.Member of the Villages O'Hare Noise committee.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have been named the "fiscal Hawk" of the Arlington Heights Village Board by the Daily Herald. Over the past sixteen years I have worked hard to watch over the village's budget, keeping the increases to a minimum. In addition, we have been able to borrow and refinance current debt at a significantly reduced rate. We weathered through the 2008 economic downturn by cutting numerous costs and personnel. I have worked on the board to encourage new business recruitment, business retention and economic development. I have worked with the business community to promote a strong viable tax base. As part of the board we have increased expenditures to invest in rebuilding the village's infrastructure, i.e, roads, sewers and water mains. We have lowered the cost of refuse and recycling pickup.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I believe that the current sales and property tax levied by the village is adequate at the current level. This is predicated upon the State of Illinois continuing to fund the village at its current rates.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?Arlington Heights(AH) has one of the finest police and fire departments in the state. The fire department has achieved the rating of ISO One, which is the highest rating attained by a fire dept. In addition, the fire department won the Safe Communities award in 2010. Our response times comply with the National Fire Protection Association standards and on many occasions, exceed the standard. The AH police dept. is also highly recognized and accredited for its work and CLEA certified. The AH police department has won numerous awards, such as the 2016 Clayton Hall Memorial award for traffic safety, a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety award, the Distracted Driving award, the Wendell Jones award for help with domestic violence victims, National Night Out and the 2015 Hearts of Gold-Heroic award. We receive numerous compliments about our police and fire services from residents and considered in the highest regard. We continue to staff our departments with the best personnel and provide state of the art equipment and technology. This equipment increases our level of service as well as reducing our worker's compensation claims. Our personnel are continually being trained on the newest techniques and to reinforce current procedures.I do not believe anything should be changed and the departments are prepared for the next decade. The village is consistently updating the departments.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The village needs to continue to fund infrastructure, such as streets, sewers and water mains. The current budget has little room to trim, yet there are always ways to reduce spending through more efficient purchasing and use of outside contractors where more cost effective.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?The former Teen Center building is being leased out at a nominal rate per year and the Village continues to incur annual maintenance costs. We need to explore all options to reduce or remove the Village's financial obligations for this property.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The other issue to be concerned over is the viability of the State of Illinois and its ability to fund local municipalities their appropriate share of revenues from municipal fuel taxes, local sales tax and income tax. Arlington Heights needs these funds to continue its day to day operations.The Village has been able to forge significant bonds and collaboration with the other taxing bodies in Arlington Heights, such as the Library, Park District and School Districts 21, 25, 59 and 214. This continued collaboration has made for positive impact on the work we do together as well as the citizens of Arlington Heights.The Arlington Park International Racecourse is one of the most valued assets we have in the village of Arlington Heights. We need to do whatever is in our powers to make sure the race track stays a viable entity. One of those means is to continue to encourage legislators to help the racing industry in Illinois.A strong sales tax base is a large component of our revenue and therefore reduces our dependency on real estate taxes.I have worked on the board to encourage new business recruitment, business retention and economic development. I have worked with the business community to promote a strong viable tax base. As part of the board we have increased expenditures to invest in rebuilding the village's infrastructure, i.e., streets, sewers and water mains as well as flooding remedies. We have lowered the cost of refuse and recycling pickup.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bill Gates, the founder of MicrosoftWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To respect people, treat people equally regardless of their race religion. My mother was in the Holocaust,it made me realize how people are treated.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have increased my education to further my studies in other areas of finance and financial planning.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math, it helped through out my career as a CPA and with Village finances.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Treat all people with respect, regardless of their differences.