Tim Howe: 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: WaucondaWebsite: http://www.waucondaf.com/tim-howe-for-trusteeTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tim-Howe-Wauconda-Trustee-1008120092546854/Office sought: Wauconda Village Board Age: 56Family: Wife, Beth Ann BeasleyOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Board Member, Past President: Wauconda Lions Club.Board Member: Veterans RR.Past Board Member, Secretary: Harbour Club Condominium Association.Member: Wauconda Moose Lodge 1969.Member: Wauconda Chamber of Commerce.Elected offices held: Trustee: 2015-2017Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My involvement in the community has introduced me to folks from every neighborhood and all walks of life. I also strive to be accessible, whether by email, phone or just strolling around town. My legal background gives me insights into contract negotiations and potential liabilities. I firmly believe that I work for every other resident and employee of the Village, and it's my job to be as responsive as possible to their needs.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.I think everyone would agree that our overall property taxes are high enough as it is. I and my colleagues and staff have worked hard over the years to keep the Village's bite as low as possible while still providing quality core services. But the Village only accounts for about 11% of a resident's total tax bill, and state law limits our ability to raise even our small share by more than a few points. As for sales tax, we're always trying to bring more business to town, and bring more customers from outside town, which allows us to keep services high and property tax as low as possible.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?The Village fire service is provided by a fire district which is independent of Village government. But they do a great job coordinating with the various Village departments and of keeping our residents safe. As to our police department, since the hiring of Chief Wermes - after an extensive interview process by the Board and Staff - morale on the force has improved greatly and residents frequently comment on what a great job our officers do. I'm particularly happy with improvements to our Marine Unit, now staffed with sworn officers. And because it's funded by fees generated by lake users, there's been no added cost for this improved service to our taxpayers. I think we're as prepared as anyone can be for unpredictable future changes, whether they're rooted in technology or other external forces.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Our budget is about as lean as it can be without sacrificing the core services our residents expect and deserve. Obviously, we continue to look for ways to do more with less. One way we've done that is with land swaps with other governmental entities to meet the needs of the ongoing Lake Michigan Water project. We were able to limit our tax levy increase to just over 1% for the coming year, necessitated solely to meet police pension funding obligations beyond our control - that's an actual bump of less than 1/100th of a resident's total property tax bill and is actually less than the rate of inflation. If we had access to more revenue, it would be best used to retain a dedicated economic development director to focus exclusively on identifying and attracting new business, which in turn would pay dividends in increase sales tax revenue (and an increase in the property tax base - as opposed to rate).What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I don't hold my ideas back, so it's hard to identify one that isn't already being talked about at some level. The idea I share with many (and it's far from my idea alone) is the need for a director of economic development who doesn't have to wear several other hats. Currently economic development is lumped in with Planning and Building Zoning, but it really needs to be a stand alone job (regardless of how well they're doing under the current conditions). The only way we can increase the income side of our balance sheet is through attracting businesses which both increases the property tax base and provides additional sales tax revenue.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Continuing to advance the Lake Michigan Water project is one of my primary goals in the coming term. We're on pace now to hit the existing 2018 target date, and we've done a good job of identifying savings via right of way acquisitions and land swaps, but we need to keep pushing for more ways to reduce the end cost for our residents.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I have a lot of respect for Pope Francis. I don't always agree with the Church, but I admire his voice for the less fortunate.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Respect. Respecting others - even when you disagree - is vital to being a responsible and effective member of society.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I don't know if I could pick one moment or choice, but I do wish I had exercised more patience at a multitude of points.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Creative writing, which has helped me immensely in my ability to communicate effectively.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Not having kids, I haven't had much experience, but I think the best advice would be "don't let someone tell you you can't." You can.