Note to officials: We're watching you

In response to the Prospect Heights police layoffs, the issue is that for years the local governments spent like drunken sailors, adding departments and personnel that many times were unneeded. The towns also did not build up their reserves.

I sympathize with the people being laid off as it is never easy to lose a job. The real anger should be toward the city councils, mayors, business managers, park and school boards. Most of these people are elected by us. How can park districts pass bonds for additional construction projects when the town as a whole is suffering layoffs and then say, “but it won't raise your taxes, it just wont lower them, as the last bonds we took out have expired, and we want more money.”

Another big issue is school funding and pay. In the North and West suburbs over 85 percent comes from property taxes. Why do we have assistant principals making $113,000 a year for an elementary school of 700 students or less? Why do we have gym teachers making $85,000 a year to teach our kids how to do a jumping jack?

We need to reduce the amount of government in this state and to level the playing field for business. Until this happens Illinois will continue to be ranked 49th out of 50 states in economic categories.

So, who is to blame for the mess? We are, for letting these people do what they want with our money for far too long. So now we have to act. We need to communicate to the boards, officials and hired hands and tell them they are being watched. They will do the work of the people and follow the will of the people. If they don't, they will be looking for jobs as well.

Tony Atkins

Wheaton