with balls that will on behalf of the residents of Peoria, file suit against the City claiming the Garbage Fee does not go to garbage collection and never has and that collecting money based on the name of this fee is unjust and simply a lie to the taxpayers of Peoria.
Isn’t this taxation without representation? I mean it only targets home owners, not businesses. It doesn’t go for garbage because garbage collection is included in our property taxes under a contract.
With the way this Council disregards public opinion and votes our money away including the City’s retirement funds all for a pet project that could very well fail (and we know the loaning record of the City of Peoria) this suit would maybe wake them up to the fact that being fiscal irresponsible with taxpayer money will cost.
Now some will say, PAP, suing the City is the same as suing ourselves! That is true, that is why we should name the Council members who voted and supported this fee as defendants and ask the Judge to put a stay on the collection of the tax and stop giving Illinois American Water $80K a year to collect it for them.
Then maybe instead of loaning interest free for 2 years, $7 million to a developer and issuing $29 million in bonds all for a hotel and a walkway, maybe our leaders will see that taking care of Peoria first like crime, streets, fire, and schools would likely draw private investment no longer needing us, the taxpayer to be in the loan business thus relieving the Council of dreaming up outrageous fees and taxes and actually spending our money on us!
10 comments:
Yet another article of intelligence versus the "blind thinking" on ego-generated projects while ignoring true issues of police/fire/infrastructure. These grandiose ideas are being fueled by-the-few and forced upon the many. Certainly few fixed-income people will benefit from ANY of these planned buildings/fees, but will PAY regardless! How about an "Occupy Fiscal Insanity in Peoria"?!
There has been discussion of a lawsuit among a few circles.....
A belated comment on one of your prior statements regarding eight people deciding the fate of all: what happened to voting of the citizens on the big money projects??!! They say "jump" and we are to say "how high?!"
Let's be intellectually honest here. Yes, the money raised from the garbage fee goes toward residential garbage collection. While in the past, all garbage collection costs were paid from property taxes, once the fee based the costs were split between property tax revenue and garbage fee revenue. The "saved" property taxes (those no longer going to pay the bill for residential garbage collection) was used for other purposes. The problem is that to "sell" the fee, some slush funds were carved out and put toward the POP teams, and a few other initiatives to make it more palatable. Had the fee not been implemented, it would have been necessary to cut several additional million from the budget at a time when millions were already being cut.
With the fee being raised to cover the cost of the full costs of garbage collection, no property taxes will be spend on that and thus can be spent on other items. Under the new proposal, ALL costs for garbage collection will be paid by the users (residents). Commercial and business accounts aren't charged the fee but they also receive NO garbage collection -- they pay for it themselves. I like this approach as it is clearer exactly what the costs are.
I'm also okay with keeping garbage collection as a property tax supported item, but that means one of two things would have to occur. Either millions in additional cuts in other areas would have to occur or the property tax would have to be raised. Both of these are probably unacceptable alternatives.
Nothing is free -- it all has to be paid from some source.
I would rather have the property tax raised and abolish the garbage fee. This money slushing makes it less transparent as to what money is going where. Let's make it clear. Kill the garbage fee and raise the property tax. It wouldn't have to be raised as high and then the burden would be felt on all the citizens equally.
In Creve Coeur, there used to be one fee, every two months, water and garbage. It was approximately 40.00 per two month for both.They split it into two fees. Now water is close to 50.00 a month and garbage is 40. something every three months. The only good thing is that every one who uses them pays for them. We got and now you are going to get it. BOHICA.
Speaking of water prices. I am a senior citizen and not in town that much. The most I use water is two loads a month for washing machine, 2 loads of dishes a month, and 4 showers a month. My water bill is $28 per month. When I called to complain several years ago, I was told they don't go by water usage for that low amount used, but there is a minimum dollar amount and even if I only got one glass of water a month it would be the same. I don't think that is fair to senior citizens or any others who aren't in town continually. This also means I only need garbage pickup once a month and I own my receptacle purchased from PDC because 2 years rental would pay for it so it was cheaper to purchase it. It isn't fair that I am being charged as much as I am for both services and now water rates are being raised and so is the garbage rate. If you notice by the insert that came with the new water bill, people that use less water are being charged a higher percent. This isn't right.
It's right in front of you now! It's just that simple. Research, brother. Surf the net, or ask a friend or a family member. They might be of help. Just like Spiderman, lawyers are just a neighborhood away,
I believe your last sentence is very truthful. Nothing is free in this world. I think these saved property taxes have a good purpose.
It's easy to find a good lawyer, but it's hard to find a wise one. You have to check the background of your prospective lawyer and determine whether he is capable of the job. Credentials play an important role, as well as area of specialization.
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