Jennifer Curtiss: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: Fox River GroveWebsite: N/AOffice sought: Fox River Grove Village Board Age: 29Family: Husband, ScottOccupation: Senior Client Specialist, Robert W. Baird Co.Education: Bachelor of Business in Finance - Western Illinois University, 2008Civic involvement: Fox River Grove Lioness Club, Treasurer Sue H. Dufern Memorial Servicemen's FundElected offices held: N/AQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am a natural born leader with a strong desire to be involved and give back to the community. My level headedness, finance degree and love for this town will help me represent what's best for the people of the Village.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Our local sales tax is less than other communities with a lot of shopping. As our downtown redevelopment continues to take shape, it will be important to keep our tax rates less than those communities to encourage more spending here. Property taxes are too high. McHenry County is one of the most expensive counties in the nation. As assessed values on our homes have decreased, we have seen very little in the way of tax relief. The portion of tax revenue that goes to Fox River Grove is very small.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?From what I have seen, the Police and Fire Departments do a great job. The Police Department does an excellent job of patrolling areas in town with high commuter traffic both on Route 14 and surrounding neighborhood streets.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?As someone who attends meetings regularly, the Village is already conservative in their spending and doing a great job anticipating future expenditures. The budget cannot be trimmed without interrupting the quality of services provided to residents. We need additional revenue sources.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would love to see bike paths and walking trails that residents can take advantage of. It would be great to be able to enhance our river front and connect Lions Park to the Picnic Grove Park.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Plans are finally starting to move forward for the new Public Works facility at the corner of Hillcrest and Lincoln, the IEPA will be requiring us to make significant upgrades to our Wastewater treatment plant and the Village is working with a developer that wants to revitalize our downtown.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I can't name just one. I respect all who use their power for the greater good!What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Get involved! Do something that makes a difference.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have started saving earlier.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math classes- I love numbers! Now I use them every day.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?If I had kids, I would tell them to be their personal best!