EVA - Equalized Assessed Valuation

Elected officials like to brag about not raising taxes. Eric Turner, up for re-election to the City Council, is quoted in the JS on 12/17, 2010, "Don't blame us (City) for next big tax bill". Overlooked by Turner is the "garbage tax" recently enacted to all property owners in the city, the transfer by the City of Peoria and all costs, of the Animal Control Facilities and Services over to the County of Peoria and the fact that taxes collected from tax-paying properties have risen an average of 2.7% every year for the past 15 years.

Look also to the City Council approved iffy new hotel downtown that is backed by General Obligation bonds, which means if the hotel doesn't make it, the taxpayers may wind up with a hotel and $30 million plus bond payments to make.

Turner left out that the city recently passed a natural gas use tax that will generate about $2.2 million in new tax revenue for the city.

If library taxes go up, which they will, attribute that rise to the city because they approved an approximate $40 million spending spree by the library that was APPROVED, especially by Turner. This loan can only be paid back by revenues generated by the library and and taxes. Mainly taxes as if you have been reading, less hard and paperback books are read by less readers every year and will accelerate as the older generations are replaced by Kindle, etc, electronic books and, the web and methods not yet on the market or drawing boards. All within the next decade.

So for most of you, did property taxes go down or up? Many did have their taxes lowered on appeal and many more would do so if they comprehended how to go about it. Or took the trouble.

Sure, Peoria Public School District # 150 is an albatross around property tax payers necks. Turner points out that the district board voted to increase property taxes enough to bring in an extra $900,000 of which, now get this, "$700,000 will go toward consulting services to determine the district's health, life and safety building needs".

Consultants do not need to work in other communities. They make a far better than average livelyhood right here. Peoris County is no exception. Newly hire Patrick Urich is a great believer in consultants. Check his record, especially where he continues to bring down his friend of ten years from Lake County to brief the board on its present and future. Last year, the cost was around $18,000 plus other expenses like renting out an offsite location for the meeting and lucn. Approximately one half of the board attended with some leaving after lunch before the meeting is over which is typical evety year.

Politicians say don't blame them for rising taxes. Well, taxes are rising and poloticians approve them, one way or another.

Go Tea Party people. I just hope you have the stamina to strongly support sincere "don't spend more than you take in" candidates. Like Akeson, Summers and possibly Weaver to replace especially Turner and Spain. Spain is learning but he should not learn at taxpayers expense.