Tim Roberts: 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: BarringtonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Barrington Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 53Family: Married (Lori) one child (Chloe)Occupation: President / CEO Catalyst Exhibits Inc.Education: Some CollageCivic involvement: Former Board Member Barrington Area United WayElected offices held: Barrington Village Trustee two termsHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Fiscal management, unlike the State of Illinois that has seen it's credit ratting drop twice. The Village of Barrington has had our credit ratting increased and maintained. While dealing with difficult pension issues and unfunded mandates from the state.Key Issue 2 Economic Development, this is the key to our future. We need to build a strong retail/business core that will provide revenue and vitality our residents want and need to maintain and improve the Village of Barrington.Key Issue 3 Grade separation for the former EJE line. I would not rank them all three are very important issues for the village.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My experience building our business. I understand that any organization needs to work four things each day, quality, efficiency, growth and innovation. When I say growth I am not talking about increasing the size of government or increasing taxes or fees.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.Sales tax in Illinois and the Chicago land area is too high. The village board has no control over this issue being a non home rule village.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 trains, four crossing in eight tenths of a mile cutting our village in half with one long train this is a real problem, traffic, public safety and quality of life. We are working very hard for funding for a grade separation on Hwy 14 we have received funding for one of the first steps an engineering study. We need to keep fighting we have a long way to go.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?One area our budget could use more money is the road replacement program we aren't behind however, it would be nice to get a little ahead. Public safety pensions consume an ever increasing chunk of our budget it is becoming very difficult to maintain services without pension reform.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Great question, being an incumbent we are working on many different ideas and issues that are talked about all the time with friends and residents to get feedback. My one thing is government needs to embrace change we must, promote it, push it and talk about it.