Excess cash should go back to taxpayers

The May 15 editorial “Review, choose conference costs wisely” highlights just the latest example of public officials’ lack of sensitivity about spending taxpayers’ money. The amount of money involved in this Arlington Heights Park District incident is not huge, but it is the mindset that is disturbing. Many public officials simply do not know how to function in a tightfisted financial manner.

One of the reasons for this is that too many public bodies have way too much money available to them. Just look at the millions upon millions of excess cash and investments being held by many of our schools and other public bodies. These excess funds should be rebated to the taxpayers, and if public bodies need more money they should have to come back to the taxpayers and explain why they need to either raise taxes or borrow more.

Roland G. Ley

President pro tem

Taxpayers United

Arlington Heights