Saturday, September 04, 2010

Museums Rising Tax Collecting - And Spending

Review of the PRM request for forced (forced, yes, the 15,000 no voters didn't want the extra $4 million a year) tax collection: Originally $600,000 spread out over 6 years. I voted yes. Then $24 million, then $34+ million,(this is when the county asked to own the museum that I voted "no") then $40 million, then $40,600 and now $41,600,000 as stated in Peoria County news release to the board yesterday.

Like Dirksen said, a "million here and a million there" and .... Cancelled pledges must be near $2 million as $556,000 were noncollectable in 2008 and $744,000+ in 2009. 2010 noncollectable have not been released even though the museum's 2010 year ended June 30.

The PRM will continue fund raising drives every year ($500,000 a year projected; if the Endowment isn't at least $11 million, they will ask for more) for the lifetime of the museum building. Even though donations will be private donations; the museum each year will be submitting requests for grants as they do now, private donations that could have gone for more worthy causes, will be lost.

I predict this project is going to one very costly liability to the taxpayers; and the donors, for an ordinary lifetime in years.

And then, if there is no IMAX???

1 comment:

Greg James said...

Merle Greg James here. As you know I am against the govt. doing much more than protecting us and our rights. For people that can't decide whether to sign the petition on blocking the bonds they might ask themselves if it is moral or not to try to get people who may not be able to afford to buy something to help them buy something they want. IE: I want a museum or a bike trail and even though you can't afford it I want you to help me pay for that want. Of course it is not right and here we have a choice where many times we don't. The right choice is to vote no or sign the block the bonds petition. It is not moral for me to go to you and force you to give me money even if it is for good or charity. But a gang called govt. can do what is morally wrong for us to do. It is still immoral. People you have a choice you may not like to think of it as moral or immoral but it is.