tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post3298047003241155773..comments2023-10-21T05:31:04.705-05:00Comments on Merle Widmer's PEORIA WATCH: Peoria Public Library - A Fleecing of the PublicMerle Widmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788275198834985986noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-61121222997787605652008-11-20T20:05:00.000-06:002008-11-20T20:05:00.000-06:00We'll see how many people are "bitching" about Oba...We'll see how many people are "bitching" about Obama in, say, about three years from today 11/20/08Merle Widmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04267875223386924271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-8816252702815921472008-07-14T06:20:00.000-05:002008-07-14T06:20:00.000-05:00Sorry Billy.Absolutely right they can gripe, but g...Sorry Billy.<BR/><BR/>Absolutely right they can gripe, but guess what? Tough. No slack from me. If one is so bothered by a referendum maybe that should spurn them to participate in another "right of all Americans"....the right to vote.<BR/><BR/>My mom bitches about George Bush and the conversation usually ends when I tell her "You should have voted against him then."<BR/><BR/>I'm not quite sure what the problem with that concept is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-9669390528813702922008-07-11T23:59:00.000-05:002008-07-11T23:59:00.000-05:00Mazr: Really, you need to learn to differentiate b...Mazr: Really, you need to learn to differentiate between opinion and fact. You might be of the opinion that people who don't vote shouldn't gripe. The fact is the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of American recognizes the right of ALL Americans to gripe about taxes -- among other things.Billy Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08601334514415948183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-23069977665344523432008-07-08T13:53:00.000-05:002008-07-08T13:53:00.000-05:00I overlooked the $60,000,000.00 airport expansion ...I overlooked the $60,000,000.00 airport expansion funded mostly by taxpayers.<BR/><BR/>Currently, my wife and I fly out of Bloomington who offered free parking before Peoria offered free parking. <BR/><BR/>The destinations we fly to save us about $200 each trip. If the economy in Peoria crashes, the most benefit of the exspansion will be to bigger businesses like Caterpillar.<BR/><BR/>Less flights to Vegas probably.<BR/><BR/>But all property owners will share in the cost just as they will on any bonds sold by the PBC. All PBC borrowing MUST be paid back with interest by taxpayers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-45263177838050968592008-07-07T10:21:00.000-05:002008-07-07T10:21:00.000-05:00My property tax has been appealed to the State of ...My property tax has been appealed to the State of Illinois. It may be at least another tax cycle before I receive a ruling.<BR/><BR/>Pay the price the County Board of Appeals says my home is worth and we will work out a sales plan. <BR/><BR/>In the meantime I have 2 1/2 years to go on my County Board term and I will not be running for a fourth term. Eventually, I do plan to move from Peoria County as I see cost of living for retired people like myself rising while we pay more and more property tax. <BR/><BR/>54% of my property taxes go to a school system (#150) without I or many others receiving the benefits of a good school system. <BR/><BR/>Too many non-tax paying enhancements have been added to this community that add little or no value to my immediate family. They add little to my property value, are not and will not pay their way in my foreseable future without additionad taxes or increased user fees, more borrowing or all of the above.<BR/><BR/>People can (and more are), live anywhere outside of the the City and County of Peoria and come visit the zoo, RiverPlex, ballpark, libraries, Civic Center, 9000 acres of PPD, Gateway, etc., paying without paying the excessive property taxes charged to the local homeowners.<BR/><BR/>The motto, "build it and they will come" has turned out to be, yes; many will come but do not stay especially businesses. There are always exceptions like ELM and Maui Jims.<BR/><BR/>If you have been noticing many local businesses have either gone out out of business, relocated, gone or are going broke, or both.<BR/><BR/>One of my greatest concern is for people who are retired, have a basically fixed income and plan to live out their lives in their own homes in the City of Peoria. Questionable increased value of their homes causes them to pay more and more property taxes for enhancements way beyond the basic services originally intended.<BR/><BR/>Also, for businesses that may be forced to charge a higher sales tax than their neighbors.<BR/><BR/>Of course, retired people could (and many do) live in areas where property taxes are low but there are more risks to their safety and the safety of their personal property. <BR/><BR/>I do not buy the socialistic attitude of "they can afford it, stick it to them". My attitude is that if people want and can afford it let them support community enhancements but not if what they support causes others to pay more than they can afford.<BR/><BR/>I was never a "tax and spend" advocate for enhancements UNLESS there was excess money to pay for them. Taxes needed for inadequately funded basic services I can support providing the money is properly spent.<BR/><BR/>Having been involved in government, education and business, watched and observed other boards such as the library board and school board, Congress and our State, I conclude that very few public bodies can do a better job than an efficient private sector entity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-10273967175577187312008-07-07T06:59:00.000-05:002008-07-07T06:59:00.000-05:00"First, the right to bitch about taxes comes from ..."First, the right to bitch about taxes comes from paying taxes, whether or not one voted."<BR/><BR/>Not in this case, Bill. Any property tax payer who didn't take the time to go vote on this only has his/herself to blame.<BR/><BR/>I should have been more clear in my first post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-90812537835686115532008-07-05T16:57:00.000-05:002008-07-05T16:57:00.000-05:00First, the right to bitch about taxes comes from ...First, the right to bitch about taxes comes from paying taxes, whether or not one voted.<BR/><BR/>Second, sitting out an election can be an overt form of protest, not one I would pick, but there it is.Billy Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08601334514415948183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-61144075156053254622008-07-03T23:36:00.000-05:002008-07-03T23:36:00.000-05:00I have no problem with anyone who voted no bitchin...I have no problem with anyone who voted no bitching about this project. <BR/>Anyone else who was too lazy to get up and vote can put a sock in it.<BR/><BR/>"I know how I'm paying for my $1300 property tax increase. A lot of requests for contributions, average 3 a day, go directly into the round floor file."<BR/><BR/>Didn't you say you were moving out of the city if this increase took place?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com