Comments on: Village budget: Council weighs in

By: ckfred

ckfred — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:14:46 +0000

Here’s the problem with raising the home rule sales tax. I was listening to David Patterson, the Governor of New York, on CNBC last week. He says that in his experience, tax hikes never bring about the amount of revenue that was anticipated. People find ways to avoid paying the additional taxes.

In the case of sales taxes, people either take their spending to areas that charge less tax, or they simply reduce their rate of spending.

My parents live in Cook County, and they ask every now and then to do a little grocery shopping, pick up something at a hardware store, etc. There are times that it would be easier to shop in Cook County, but the sales tax is much higher, thanks to the Cook County Board and a higher RTA tax in Cook County.

If DG does raise the home rule tax, it become financially enticing to do grocery shopping at the Jewel in Woodridge or Clarendon Hills. Shopping on the internet becomes more desirable.

By: Red Fred

Red Fred — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:55:35 +0000

West Suburban Living has a great article on Downers Grove. Most of the Resource Attractions they talk about or have pictures of are getting cut if MT is correct.

By: fromtheheart

fromtheheart — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:32:57 +0000

Is it possible to bring in some of the several DG unincorporated neighborhoods to become corporated to gain tax revenue?

By: Jimmy Johnson #48

Jimmy Johnson #48 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:40:21 +0000

My helmet is off to the Mayor and the rest of the Council that is looking at this budget and making difficult cuts. It is not easy telling someone no that you need to cut a program that is close to thier hearts.

Also glad to hear that these take home cars are finally being looked at.

Thanks Geoff and Sean!

By: Chad D. Walz

Chad D. Walz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:51:55 +0000

I think our public servants from police to fire to teachers to government employee’s are all going to have to make some concessions when it comes to their benefits. Their pensions are way out of control and cannot be funded with out substantial tax increases. Jobs will be lost just to cut the pension and benefit portion of their compensation out of the budget. One less person to compensate in retirement. It is happening all over the country. Google it for yourself, don’t take my word for it.

The thought process behind getting a government job used to be that you got great retirement and health benefits because you worked for peanuts. That is no longer the way it is. Many of these jobs pay into the $80k to $100k range once you are at top scale. That is a lot of peanuts!! The job’s these people do are worth every penny to me but their pensions and health benefits in retirement are outrageous. Don’t even get me started on double dipping on pensions like our old D58 boss is trying to pull off.

Maybe the management jobs with in these organizations should be trimmed some. Both the police and fire department have more than their share of highly compensated managers. Maybe some demotions are in order. Hey at least they keep their jobs. I do not want to see the cops or fire fighters on the streets cut because some fat cat isn’t willing to pitch in!! I stood up at a budget meeting supporting those officers and I still support the beat cops today!!