Time to prioritize in Elk Grove Village

In response to the article "Elk Grove Village raises vehicle sticker, permit fees after 18 years," I would contend that Mayor Johnson's statement that the fee increases are "nominal" is absurd at best - the current fee is $20, and unless my District 214 education was all for nothing, I'm pretty sure that means we've just seen a 25 percent fee increase for the average vehicle owner.

When it comes to senior citizens, they've just witnessed an incredible 500 percent increase in fees. While the village board (excluding Trustee Lissner, whom I applaud for voting against the measure) may see $5 as just a drop in the bucket, I see it from a different perspective: What could the average driver get in Elk Grove Village for that $5?

Well, that's a meal at a local fast food establishment, two gallons of gas, a bag of chips and some salsa at the grocery store, or even a car wash - all of which can be purchased from Elk Grove Village businesses.

The way I see it, that five dollars is five dollars that won't be spent at a local establishment.

When combined with the increases in fees for permits, that's $275,000 that's just been taken away from the already struggling businesses and residents of the village in a down economy.

How about instead of raising fees on residents and businesses, we forget about building that third or fourth or fifth fountain on Biesterfield Road, put things like rebuilding the Village Green and installing new Business Park welcome signs on hold, and instead focus on providing the truly essential services to our residents and companies without raising taxes and fees.

It's not that people don't like these luxuries, we definitely do, but we prefer lower taxes and fees even more.

Time to prioritize.

Dustin Sneath

Elk Grove Village