Michael Blum: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Round LakeWebsite: http://www.4allroundlake.comOffice sought: Round Lake Village boardAge: 37Family: Married, 2 ChildrenOccupation: Benefits Service Manager at Aon HewittEducation: Attended Western Illinois University, Major in Political ScienceCivic involvement: Madrona Village HOAElected offices held: Trustee, Village of Round Lake, 2006 - PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continuation of Fiscal Responsibility - Within 4 of the past 5 years while in office the Village of Round Lake has maintained a surplus budget allowing the accumulation a $4.3 Million dollar reserve in a General Fund. This fund will then afford the Village necessary help in these tough economic times. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year being financially focused, we were able to reduce a budgeted $800K General fund deficit by $500K. The main driver for posting any deficit was due to the State of Illinois' inability to pay 6 months of income tax revenues owed to the Village.As Chair of the HR Finance Committee we have reduced the overall General fund budget by $1 million dollars over the past year. This was accomplished by looking at every line item individually and making the proper decisions or adjustments.In the 2010-2011 fiscal year we had a budgeted General Fund deficit of $350K. We are forecasting the nonexistence of a deficit with the possibility of a small surplus. Our ongoing mission is to continue our history of a laser focus on the finical health of the Village without risking the public safety of it's residents.Key Issue 2 Moving the Village Forward - Either in tough economic times times or those of great prosperity, it is always important that we continue moving the village forward.While a member of the board Over the past 5 years we have accomplished this in many ways:1) Professionalizeing our police department by being CALEA certified, hiring an experienced and seasoned Chief of Police to formulate and drive the mission of the department, increasing focus on officer training, and maintaining our excellent record of public safety while managing costs. 2) Hiring both an experienced and seasoned Village Administrator as well as Village Finance Director. While the village transitioned from one of the fastest growing communities in the state to a thriving village of 17,000 residents, they have been paramount in focusing the village from a small town to a thriving community.Our focus for the next 4 year in order to move the village forward is:1) Implementation and focus on a downtown Round Lake plan. Over the past 8 years the village invested time and resources in the development of a comprehensive transit orientated downtown shopping area. As the economy pulls out of the recession, the village needs to be ready to move from the planning stages to actual implementation.2)Focus on economic growth. While over the past few years the village has benefited by not depending on sales tax revenues, it is essential that the village continue to look at expanding this revenue opportunity. In order to reduce the residents property tax burden, the village needs to take an aggressive role in ""selling our village"" to economic developers. We need to look at all opportunities to attract developers and businesses to the village. This will not only increase a much needed sales tax base but also bring businesses that the residents are anxiously asking for. We need a supermarket!Key Issue 3 Creating a Sense of Community - Over the course of the last 10 years the Village has gone from a community of 5,000 to 17,000 resident and over 5,000 homes. People have moved to the community from all over the Chicagoland area. We need to help drive diverse cultures and traditions and define the significantly larger Round Lake without sacrificing it's rich history. We need to:1) Have people more involved in the community by joining one of the many village committees, forming community volunteer groups, offering more and mixed community events in the same context as Home Town Fest, and the previous Streets of Summer Fest.2) There have been many large Home Owner Associations in the village that have done great jobs in forming strong ""neighborhoods"". The village needs to work with those organizations in strengthininig village pride.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My 5 years experience and proven track record focusing on fiance, staff education, professionalism, and community involvement for the village makes me the most qualified to continue serving the resident of the Village of Round Lake. Today government needs take a different more forward thinking approach managing business within the village. I believe my professional background and knowledge of corporate management/structure as a business makes me the most well rounded candidate for Trustee.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I feel our rate is just right as our current sales taxes rate is at the state minimum at 6.25%, 1% collected is then returned to the village. Not having ""home rule"" advantage, does not allow the village the opportunity of increase. The village has issues with sales tax due to low percentage in total revenue overall. We need to find ways to increase revenue in order to reduce the property tax burden on the residents. Building our sales tax revenues is the biggest area of focus without increasing fees or creating other revenue sources. We need to change and enhance current strategy to entice business within village boundaries. Ideas include utilizing the Round Lake Chamber of Commerce to market economic development opportunities in the area, continued involvement in the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), and establish a set of economic incentives to attract businesses.We need to continue pushing major road improvement extensions that would help make Round Lake a viable economic center. It is important we continue to drive the building of the 120 by-pass and the extension of route 53 North of Lake Cook road. These road improvements are not only important for the village but for all of Western Lake County.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.The biggest concern is managing a tough economic situation without putting public safety (police, public works, etc) at risk. Over the past two years the village has reduced it corporate General Fund budget by $1 million dollars. This reduction has been accomplished by not back filling roles that have been made vacant through natural attrition, freezing of COLA (Cost Of Living Increase) increase, and holding all merit increases within 2011. The village is currently down 12 positions across optimal staffing numbers. I feel that we as a village cannot afford to reduce additional staff either through attrition or layoff without risk to public service, this includes police on the street, snow plowing, maintaining infrastructure of roads, sewer, and water as we still face deficit situations on an already lean budget. I feel the village has done a great job over the past 10 years in building a General Fund reserve in excess of $4 million dollars for situations like this. We need to continue to maintain our current staffing levels to keep from a reduction in service and public safety for residents and utilize the reserve until economic situations improve.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?As Chair of the HR Finance Committee for the past 3 years, I have be in entrenched in the village budget . We complete a line by line budget review every year to evaluate all expenses. We have been able to reduce the budget by over $1 million dollars for the past two years by cutting areas of spending that are were common in ""boom years"" (donations, special events, conferences, etc). We have also made conscious decisions not to cut or postpone major capital expenses such as road improvements, equipment replacement, and building maintenance. While these expenses are easy to cut or push years out to address short falls in current budgets, it is my opinion that this is short sided and in the long run if we do not move these programs forward the village will pay more in the long run.I feel there are no major ""frivolous"" line items or expenses to represent a significant savings or percentage of the total budget. If cuts are necessary, reduction in staff would have to be the area to move forward in which is not desired. If we look at layoffs, we then look at significant reduction in resident services and place a major risk to public safety. I believe we need to continue with what's been done for the past 5 years I have been in office which includes consistant review of budget to actuals, make decions on major projects as we get a better picture on the scope and cost, and utilize our reserves where necessary.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We need to increase our focus on bringing information and convenience to residents. In today fast paced electronically connected age, municipalities have to connect with residents to meet their needs. Over the past year as Chair of the HR Finance group we implemented the capability of paying by credit cards, both at the village hall and the village web site. We post all village financial information (bill lists, audit results, monthly Finance Director reports) on the site, moved from printed news letters to electronic, and implemented Connect CTY in order to broadcast village news, updates, and announcements via phone call, text message, or email. I believe we need to find other ""out of the box"" ideas to connect with residents. By offering a virtual Town Hall forum we would be taking this connection to the next level. Twice a year we would hold this virtual forum where the board can deliver key messages to residents, and allow QA sessions for resident to ask questions and have direct interaction with the board from the convenience of their home. Today people are less likely to attend in person a village hall meeting due to time restraints or children, but they may be more interested in participating through a Web Ex meeting. The village needs to take advantage of that.