Libertyville officials want to tax, spend

On the evening of Sept. 8, I attended a board meeting of the Libertyville village trustees and mayor. On the agenda was a discussion of a proposed tax increase for village residents.

The board opened the discussion by first reviewing the dire financial situation of village funds, stressing that they would run out of money by springtime unless a projected $2 million dollar tax increase was passed immediately. Many village residents attending the meeting addressed the board with questions and suggestions.

I was quite dismayed to learn that the board has recently given the village staff a 3.5 percent pay raise and cut job positions only 7 percent over the course of 2 years!

When questioned about such imprudent financial decisions, the board responded time and again with vague answers, such as "we can't do any more than this" or "the matter is under discussion." When asked about future meetings of the board's finance committee, we were given evasive answers at first, and then incorrect information about meeting dates and times.

The board's demeanor was generally hostile and disrespectful toward the residents throughout discussion of the tax increase issue. At the end of the evening, a longtime village resident and former trustee publicly chastised the mayor and trustees for their inappropriate attitude.

Regretfully, the measure was unanimously passed by the board over the vehement objections of the public they supposedly "represent." Cleary, this board has a "tax and spend" frame of mind.

Certainly, they don't want their actions watched too closely, which is all the more reason that concerned citizens of Libertyville should keep a close eye on them.

Kathy Royer

Libertyville