Hoffman Estates not made of money

I wasn't aware that the Village of Hoffman Estates has tens of millions of dollars to spare.

The village is constructing a new police department off of Higgins Road that will cost the taxpayers $28 million, all the while they are planning to take over the failing $60 million Sears Centre that simply "hasn't lived up to expectations."

As a citizen of Hoffman Estates and someone who has parents paying property taxes, I for one must stand back and ask our elected officials where it is they are getting the money for all of these projects. The last I checked we were in a recession that is leaving state and local governments looking at every possible means to increase their revenues.

If the Village of Hoffman Estates wants to spend $60 million, how about giving homeowners in Hoffman Estates a little relief on their property taxes? How about giving businesses in Hoffman Estates a little relief on some of the local taxes and fees they pay?

The people of Hoffman Estates need to know where the village is obtaining this money and how it is we can afford it. Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but I haven't heard the reason behind building a new police station and I definitely have not heard a good enough reason to put the taxpayers of Hoffman Estates on the hook for the failure of the Sears Centre to "live up to expectations."

I say no bailout for the Sears Centre. Let's give families in Hoffman Estates a bailout.

Ryan Melchin

Hoffman Estates