Elk Grove makes good start on cuts

I would like to take this relatively rare opportunity to applaud the Elk Grove Village board of trustees and Mayor Johnson for recognizing the unfortunate economic situation we are currently in and making cuts in the most unnecessary of programs, like the Tour of Elk Grove and fireworks budgets.

While this is a great start, there are still cuts that can be made. While it is understood that many projects are not funded directly from the village's general fund, we should not be spending $97,773 on false bricks in the median at Higgins Road and Oakton Street, or $150,510.24 on welcome signs to the Elk Grove Business Park. After all, it's the largest contiguous industrial/commercial area in North America... does it really need welcome signs? I think you'll know it when you find it.

Other things, like changing the streetlamp banners on Biesterfield Road for every single new season, holiday and special event (which carries labor costs), need to be cut in some way.

The village's $3 million/year withdrawal from the "rainy day fund" must be reduced. It's definitely a rainy day, but we can keep it from becoming a torrential downpour by leaving as much cash in reserve as possible.

Dustin Sneath

Elk Grove Village