In this climate, beauty is a luxury

Even though the number of households in Arlington Heights that are unable to pay their water bills on time has increased to 1,000, all nine of Arlington Heights elected officials recently voted to spend $50,000 on three landscaped medians.

I consider this a luxury item since the sole purpose of redoing these medians is "beautification" according to a village official. Also, according to a village official this $50,000 is "a drop in the bucket" when compared to the entire street resurfacing budget.

The elected officials of Arlington Heights also recently approved going $21,000 over budget to purchase four vehicles. Two of the hybrid vehicles are Priuses which "are new on the market... its performance and durability were unknowns... with electric batteries costing $5,000 to replace."

However, there is a potential savings of $600 a year on fuel according to a village official. In just a short 35 years the village will break even on this visionary expenditure.

I am confused! So when I question spending $50,000 on "beautification," I am making a big deal about nothing. When the village goes over budget by $21,000 to save a potential $600 a year, this is our visionary village saving money.

P.S. Three of the nine elected officials voted against the purchase of the four vehicles. "Tighter economic times" and "spending public money on politically correct projects was bad timing" were the reasons given for voting against the purchase. Where was this fiscal responsibility when the $50,000 was allocated for "beautification" of medians?

Dawn Walter

Arlington Heights