Time to stop village from raising taxes

To my fellow residents of Arlington Heights: As you may or may not know, on Nov. 17 the Village President and the board of trustees tried to impose a real estate tax increase on the citizens of Arlington Heights.

On Dec. 15 they will try to pass the tax again.

The "out-of-touch" arrogance of this attempt rivals auto industry executives flying their private corporate jets to Washington while begging for bailout funding.

Does the board not realize that we are in a GLOBAL recession?

Do they not understand that salaries are down and unemployment is up?

Do they not recognize that property values have tumbled and foreclosures have escalated to Village and national record levels?

Do they not see the Central Business District retail failures?

Do they not listen to residents who still question the value of a $30 million city hall adorned on the north side with the "Pagoda to Nowhere"?

On Dec. 15 they will try to pass the tax again.

The only reason ... the sole reason this tax increase did not pass was due to citizen response and reasoned objection. Our only course of action is citizen refusal to allow this tax increase.

On Dec. 15 they will try to pass the tax again.

A basic rule of responsibility is to live and act within your means.

We as citizens don't have the option of legislating increased salaries

or demanding higher wages.

We don't have parachutes or safety nets.

We simply must reduce and reprioritize.

Our governing officials are duty bound do the same for the public good.

But instead ... the President and the Board are asking us to BAIL THEM OUT.

On Dec. 15 they will try to pass the tax again. And they will succeed unless you act.

Speak up with your voice NOW.

Speak up with your vote in April.

Village Hall web, www.vah.com; village hall phone, (847) 368-5000; ask for incumbent Village President Arlene Mulder or current Village Manager Bill Dixon.

John Welzenbach

Arlington Heights