Elgin council said no to real tax relief

Councilman John Steffen’s letter regarding the Elgin budget for 2014 contained several points that I take issue with.

Councilman Steffen stated, “The process included concerted yet ill-conceived efforts to send our community into deficit spending.”

At no time did anyone of us who voted against the 2014 budget suggest creating deficits. We recommended taking only a part of the $12 million to $14 million surplus amassed over the last two years of overtaxation and returning it to the taxpayers. That is not deficit spending. In fact if Mr. Steffen wants spending cuts he should have listened to our discussion where we conservatives tried to eliminate Steffen’s new bike route, which will cost the Elgin taxpayers $400,000.

Next, Steffen states, “These attempts to enact unrealistic campaign promises threaten to derail the momentum gained from difficult but needed actions over the last five years to reduce staffing; combine or eliminate positions, departments and commissions; outsource or in-source services; and invest in technology and software.” Really, “unrealistic campaign promises”?

The voters in April were given a choice between Steffen’s liberal tax-and-spend vision for Elgin and our conservative “defend the taxpayer” attitude, and they clearly voted for lower taxes. So who’s being “unrealistic”? I actually think Steffen is ignoring the taxpayers with his attitude that only he knows what is best.

Lastly, it’s very easy as a city councilman to vote yes to every spending issue and much more difficult to say no to those things that are not core services. I voted no on the final budget because the majority that includes Councilman Steffen would not compromise at all on any real tax relief on the hard-pressed taxpayers who voted for tax relief just nine months ago.

Terry L. Gavin

City councilman

Elgin