Vote to curb Elgin’s spending problem

Vote to curb Elgin’s spending problem

Since the economic bubble burst in 2008, I have watched the value of my home steadily decrease, so I was surprised when I heard the mayor and city manager of Elgin comment in 2012 that they were surprised at how much properties values had dropped in Elgin. Where had they been for the past four years; were they really that clueless?

The city had a $3 million to $4 million deficit. A citizens group was assembled to address the deficit and they came back with many solutions but the group was adamant — do not raise taxes. I guess the powers to be in city government didn’t like the findings, as now the alleged deficit jumped to $10 million. Only one city council member said they should wait to see if the shortfall really develops before taxes were raised, the rest voted to raise taxes on apparently inaccurate projections of a financial shortfall. What else would a reasonable person call it, when shortly after raising taxes the city in February 2012 advised the bond ratings firms that the city should have a $7 million surplus? That’s why we now pay for garbage pickup, leaf pickup, tax on electricity and natural gas usage and now they want to tax rain?

The city has a spending problem, planning to spend 36.7 percent more than in the 2013 budget than they did in the 2011 budget. The city has been considering giving the Elgin Symphony Orchestra money, anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000.

We need a new council, except for Councilman Jim Prigge, that represents the hard working people of Elgin, controls the spending like we do in our own households. I urge you to vote for Terry Gavin and Toby Shaw.

Richard Landwehr

Elgin