My thoughts on the idea of utility fees:
Utility fees are a much fairer way to tax residents for the services they use that property taxes. Property taxes affect only residential and commercial property owners. They do not affect the non-profits, like the huge mega institutions like Bradley University, the three hospitals and other big...
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Posts Tagged ‘ Taxes ’
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Utility fees are an idea whose time has come … for the wrong reason
Hynes and Quinn trade barbs on progressive income tax
The Dan Hynes for Governor* campaign has released a YouTube video in response to an campaign advertisement put out by his opponent, incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn.
First Quinn’s ad:
And then Hynes’ response:
This is what Rich Miller says about Quinn’s ad:
The “truth” is that Gov. Quinn did, indeed, propose income tax cuts for certain families. Quinn...
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Don’t blame the state for the high sales tax rate
WMBD-31’s Iris Perez had a good report at 6 p.m. about how some Peoria businesses were charging too much sales tax. But there was a minor gaff:
If you shop at any of the businesses at the convention center, civic center or three downtown hotels you’d be shopping in the hospitality improvement, or HIZ zone,...
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Another victory for the Peoria blogosphere
Two days ago, citizen journalist C.J. Summers blew the lid off how some north Peoria businesses were ripping off customers by charging a tax that didn’t apply. C.,J. found no one at the state of local level really gave a rat’s ass, as long as they got theirs.
Two days later, the Peoria Journal Star...
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Garbage stickers: Replacing one bad idea with a really stupid bad idea
Peoria City Councilman Eric Turner just might be insane. Here’s evidence from today’s Word on the Street:
He said the current $6 monthly garbage fee, which was instituted in 2003 to help balance Peoria’s budget at the time, could be “rolled” into the city’s tax base. Doing so would “eliminate” a fee that has been...
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Good riddance to bad spending
One of the things you will notice about Peoria Pundit is that this blog doesn’t waste a lot of bandwidth agonizing over how the recession/depression/whatever is affecting city and state budgets.
Actually, I absolutely love the fact that the lack of “revenue” (incoming taxes) is causing politicians to have to actually make decisions and THINK...
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C. J. Summers is a sore loser
Over at Peoria Chronicle, the esteemed Mr. Summers looks at the city’s financial woes and comes to an obvious, if tongue-in-cheek solution:
If the recent election has shown us anything, it’s that the vast majority of Peoria residents don’t give a hoot whether their taxes are raised. Most of them couldn’t be bothered to drag...
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Time for a new beginning
Now that I’ve gone and moved moved the Peoria Pundit to its own domain, I suppose I should start blogging up a storm.
But I’m tired and bummed out over this last election. I saw too many friends turn on each other. And it never feels good to be on the losing end of a...
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Local: City wants voter input on budget
(press release)
As the City Council begins another year of budget planning, we want to start the process by reaching out to the citizens of Peoria for input on where they would like to see their tax dollars invested.
Mayor Jim Ardis said, “It is vital that citizens have a voice in how their tax dollars...
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Politics: Bill would make Illinois budget available on Web
I just received the following press release:
Taxpayer Watchdog Group Urges Immediate Up-or-Down Senate Vote on Budget Transparency Bill
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), along with State Rep. Mike Tryon and three other citizen organizations, today called for Senate President Emil Jones to schedule budget transparency legislation for an immediate up-or-down...
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Today’s news: High taxes play in Peoria, as least as far as Peoria legislators are concerned
Links are via the Journal Star. The snarky commentary is my own:
We’re one step toward an involuntary county-wide tax to pay for a regional museum no one wants to pay for voluntarily. All it needs is approval from the House of representatives and the governor. Aaron Schock and David Leitch are already on board....
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Local: A few taxing questions for Gary Sandberg
I’m asking Gary because he was the Peoria City Council member who moved to increase the city’s tax on hotel room rentals from the 1.5 percent called for in the Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement tax by another half percentage point to 2 percent.*
What essential city services– such as police and fire protection or infrastructure...
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Local: Increase HRA taxes? WONDERFUL idea!
Two downtown hotels want to increase the city’s Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement Tax. They say the teeny-tiny increase could be used to boost tourism in Peoria. The article isn’t clear how this happens but hey, what the Hell. It’s only a small amount of cash that’s going to be added to what folks pay...
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Today’s news: Evil or stupid, take your pick
The links are via the Journal Star. The snarky commentary is my own.
Blago wants to give Baby Boomers free rides on mass transit. Growing up, I didn’t begrudge freebies for the geezers. But in my youth, old people were the people who fought in World War II and survived the Great Depression. Most of...
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Politics: My problem with McConoughey’s tax plan
Jim McConaughey hates me.
I don’t know why. I’ve always been nice to him. I print his press releases. I didn’t make fun of him when he said he remembered the Cuban missile crisis when he was an infant at the time.
So, why does he want to raise my taxes?
Yep. He most certainly does want...
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Liveblogging, Peoria City Council, part 4
ITEM NO. 7 Communication from the City Manager and Finance Director/Comptroller Requesting Approval of the RESOLUTION Adopting the 2008 CITY of PEORIA BUDGET.
Barbara Van Auken, moves to eliminate Expo Garden consideration. Spears has been working hard to get a real asset to this city. Totally supportive. Will support in the...
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Media: Good catch in today’s Word on the Street
Karen McDonald has a good catch in today’s column. It turns out Dick Versace has been describing himself as both pro-life and pro-choice, depending on the person he’s speaking to.
And John Sharp gives us the school on the City of Peoria’s budgetary shortfall and the possibility that this is the year they will seek...
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Liveblogging: Peoria City Council budget hearing, 3
Settingsgaard: Says it it chief’s job to be spokesman for the city. People want to hear what the chief has to say about crime. NOT the assistant chief.
Gulley wants to go back over the saturation patrol. He doesn’t want to move saturation patrols from his district. He just wants to make sure we are...
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Liveblogging: Peoria City Council budget hearing
The meeting opens with a public Truth in Taxation hearing. On paper, they are seeing a 21-cent increase in rate. Actual rate will be set when they determine the levy. The actual rate will be determined by forumla, and Roberta Parks, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. Wants the city to “continmue to be fiscally...
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Politics: Quote of the day
“To tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection: it is plunder.”
– Benjamin Disraeli
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About Peoria Pundit
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates The Blog Peoria Project, which promotes community-based citizen journalism in his hometown, Peoria IL. Call me at (309) 863-5748 and leave a message.
Recent Blog Peoria Posts
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Spring Turning March 21, 2010witchsbrew
The Cosmos strives for equilibrium today. The hours of daylight and dark are equal. Spring returns–even if the day is dark and cold, rainy, snowy, spitting sleet. It’s the thought that counts.
Modern Wiccans call the day Ostara. I am not found of the name. Like Easter itself, the name is taken from a Teutonic lunar Goddess Eostre. Mike Nichols, author of The Witches’ Sabbats, from the website of the same name, “Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the vernal equinox full moon.” Technically that will fall on the 29th of March. According to Nichols, the Roman Catholic Church divided the vernal holiday into Easter–the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox–and Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 25th. This, of course, the day that the Angel Gabriel announces that Mary is “with child.” “Lady Day” was the name used by our first Wiccan founders.
I think I prefer the simpler “Spring Turning.” It was the phrase I used in my own fiction back before I was “officially” Pagan. It signifies a becoming. As Nichols says, it’s a springboard to Beltane, May 1st. Processes begun at the equinox find fulfillment at Beltane.
I hadn’t planned to celebrate the day, but a friend called late in the morning and said, “Let’s go to Bloomington to the Mennonite Relief Sale.” The day was dreary; and I knew that by the time we got there, most everything would sold, but I hadn’t been to the Relief Sale since it left Peoria. I was pleasantly surprised to get a bunch of pussy willows. I can’t remember the last time I had pussy willows.
And on the way back, I asked to stop in a Kelly Seed to look over their new shipment of heirloom seeds. I haven’t decided yet if I am going to plant a garden this year or slit my wrists, but Global Village in the Heights is collecting supplies for Haiti this month, and one of the things on the list is garden seeds. So I bought heritage melons, squash, radishes, and corn. And a packet of mixed lettuce if I decide to plant for myself. Spring is such a fickle time of the year…
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How Railroads Promote Ind’l Development – Past and Present March 20, 2010David P. Jordan
I think the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway’s 172-page Industrial Development Brochure is incredible for its detail, and it shouldn’t leave prospective buyers of listed properties and buildings with too many questions. But if they do have any, they can always contact the railroad.
Closer to home, RailAmerica’s Toledo Peoria & Western Railway lists these properties. I’m curious, though, why two of them, here and here, which are nowhere near TP&W track, are listed (furthermore, they could find out that “Middle Road” is not spelled “Middel.”).
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., owner of two local shortlines – Illinois & Midland Railroad and Tazewell & Peoria Railroad – provide few details on their website, but it does say this:
I&M’s extra-wide 200-foot right-of-way, and adjacent industrial sites on both I&M and T&P, offer excellent location opportunities for manufacturing, distribution and transload facilities.
Before the Internet Age, railroads published and circulated booklets detailing industrial development sites in various communities they served. One example was the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad’s 1964 booklet. One page of the Peoria section, which appeared in the railroad’s 1963 Annual Report, can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail below.
The Rock Island’s promotion of both the Galena Road Industrial Park and Pioneer Industrial Park caught the attention of the Peoria Journal Star, which mentioned it in a June 16, 1964 editorial.
Past and present, American railroads know that to remain viable long term they must continuously promote their services to prospective industrial and logistics firms. And the only change is the type of media.
- David P. Jordan
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I write this with all love and respect to the local guys because they ROCK, but Comcast is Satan March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
I’m the kinda guy who is always going to wait until the very last minute to pay his cable bill. Usually, I find out it’s due when I can’t get on the Internet
So I’m in the Comcast office on Dries Lane ever other month.
Those guys rock. Professional, friendly and quick. Kudos.
But when I have actual [...]Original post by Billy Dennis
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Day by Day: Skin status update 3/20/2010 March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Today’s strip: Chris Muir is hearing my pleas. Sam is again in the low-cut, skin-tight little black dress. Chris treats up to a front view and a maddeningly curvaceous profile.
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Day By Day: Skin status update 3/19/2010 March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Today’s strip: Now this is more like it. Sam is in a skin-tight, low-cut little black dress. There’s a front view and a side view. You go, Chris!
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It’s official: The Captain America movie is going to suck March 20, 2010justiceblogofamerica
Via Slashfilm:
Now there’s a slight update: according to IESB, the shortlist is now only three names: Chris Evans (Sunshine, The Fantastic Four); Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Stop-Loss) and Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl). I’ve stumped for Evans before, but am a bit surprised that he’s still on the list, because of that Fantastic Four association. But that’s no big deal in the long run, as the Marvel Studios film universe has nothing to do with the Fox version of Marvel’s characters. (Confusing!) Evans is easily the best choice here.
Feh. We need a traditional square-jawed hero for this role, not some pretty boy. Evans is an X-games sorta guy. Cap is a baseball/football/track letterman kinda guy. And the FF movies sucked and that kinda stink don’t wash off.
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Let’s not kid ourselves, we are ALL thinking the same thing about that retired white cop who pulled a gun during a Pekin traffic stop and somehow didn’t get his sorry ass shot March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
But I am far, far to politically correct to suggest that a black guy who did this wouldn’t be sitting in the Tazewell County Jail right now. Just sayin’.
Here are some possibly related postsDecember 23, 2009 — Five Peoria police layoffs averted (0)November 29, 2009 — Pekin is on the right track (2)October 22, 2009 [...]Original post by Billy Dennis
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Iron Man 2 Trailer (OFFICIAL) | Home Video Marketing March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
if you guys think this is amazing, wait till the Avengers movie comes out. dakkota92 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:03 pm. he wanted more money they said no soo he quit. SilentWorld13 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm …
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Mail It To Team-Up: Captain America Cartoon and My theory about … March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Of course this would mean that he could be a villain in Iron Man 3 or even the Avengers movie. Now what if each major villain of the Marvel heroes banded together? Mandarin for Iron Man, Red Skull for Captain America, Loki for Thor, …
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Captain America News Round Up « Fangirl's Handbag March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
As for Chris Evans, he was the best part of the Fantastic Four, so why not keep him for a spot in the Avengers movie instead? Sebastian Stan / Wilson Bethel Sebastian Stan and Wilson Bethel are unknowns to me. I don't watch Gossip Girl …
Tell Peoria Business Directory
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AAMCO Tranmissions Unknown Date FormatAAMCO is your local automotive repair specialist from synthetic oil changes to rebuilt transmissions.
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Health and Harmony: Barb & Dick Lulay Shaklee Independent Distributors Unknown Date FormatExtremeHealthMakeovers.com offers top quality products with an impeccable reputation. The Shaklee products are all natural, safe for you and your family, and safe for the environment. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
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dESCO, LLC Service Management Software Unknown Date FormatThe Better Way to Run Your Service Company ESC simplifies the management and operations of service companies. ESC will organize and streamline the work flow of both small and large service companies, making them more manageable and profitable.
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Mitch Williams Magic Productions Unknown Date FormatMake your events absolutely unforgettable, with entertainment programs by international award winning sleight of hand artist and speaker, Mitch Williams.
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ExplorePeoria.com Unknown Date FormatExplorePeoria.com is a locally owned & managed information portal website featuring a comprehensive events calendar, free e-newsletter, a business directory, free classified ads, restaurant menus, real estate listings, job listings and much more.
PeoriaChronicle
- City mulls over cuts to basic services, giving $37M to hotel developer March 20, 2010According to this Journal Star article, the City of Peoria is looking for ways to cut basic services like sidewalk and sewer improvements due to a nearly “flat projection” in sales tax growth. Meanwhile, according to this other Journal Star article, developer Gary Matthews is still pitching his hotel plan which relies on $37 [...] […]
- Should principals be empowered leaders or branch managers? March 18, 2010The extent to which mechanistic thinking is corrupting our culture might be illustrated in relation to any number of fields of activity. For instance, our educational system suffers disastrously from the dominion of the administrative mind, which is, by the very nature of modern administration, generally mechanistic in its thinking (and therefore unfitted to […]
- Another D150 administrator put on paid leave March 16, 2010District 150 Director of Technology and Library Media Services Mary Ward has been put on paid administrative leave as the district performs an internal investigation. If past is prelude, taxpayers may be paying her to do nothing for a long time. The last administrator to be put on paid administrative leave, Mary Davis, [...] […]
Merle Widmer’s Peoria Watch
- FireFly - What Community Leaders Said March 15, 2010"Calling FireFly 'the poster child' of Peoria NEXT", National City regional president Doug Stewart said that technology was not in short supply in Peoria. "Ideas are not our problem. The issue is management, first, and capital second. If we are going to hit a home run, FireFly is the closest thing we've got."Doug was probab […]
- FireFly Closer to Burning Bright March 15, 2010So wrote Molly Parker, reporter for the JS in May of 2007. The resolution by the County to guarantee, along with the city, a six million dollar loan to FireFly by National City Bank, State Representative Dave Leitch, Vice-President, who personally urged the County Board to approve this loan. Quoting Ms. Parker,"The resolution passed both committees by v […]
- FireFly & G&D Integrated March 14, 2010On 5/28/07, Jennifer Davis and Molly Parker wrote "Finding a FireFly Fix Over Breakfast" in their 'Word on the Street' Column in the JS. Quoting the column, " braving buckets of snow, former Mayor Dick Carver, current Mayor Jim Ardis, state Representative Dave Leitch and a Peoria businessman showed up for breakfast at Le Peep. Over t […]
CapitolFax
- Reader comments closed for the weekend March 19, 2010
- *** UPDATED x1 *** Afternoon campaign roundup March 19, 2010
- More thoughts about Garrett’s lite guv candidacy March 19, 2010
- Question of the day March 19, 2010
- Cohen claims his religion was a factor March 19, 2010
Pieces of Flair
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