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Each year, the county board battles to create a balanced budget. What actions can the board take to minimize the tax burden on residents while not sacrificing services?
There are many actions the county board can take to minimize tax burden while not sacrificing services. Having a business management degree and past community management experience, I feel I can add some good insights into this area. As a fiscal conservative I would look to cut spending and reduce the tax burden in as many ways as possible. Once on the Board, I would push for the continued evaluation of current expenditures and services to determine which are priorities, and to see if there are areas where there may be overlap or waste. Wasteful spending can be eliminated so that necessary services are not impacted but rather enhanced.
Another help to balancing the budget is to follow appropriate bidding procedures for service contracts, so as to maximize each dollar. Additionally, in this day and age of expanding technology, innovations and corroborative efforts can often be accessed to improve services while optimizing available funds. This approach would also be one of my recommendations.
Finally, I believe improving the business climate is perhaps the largest help in bringing in revenue for our county, not increased property or personal taxation. As a Board member, I would do all I could to help facilitate a setting within our county where business would want to come. This would increase the corporate tax revenue, while allowing for tax relief for residents. It would also allow for services to remain uninterrupted and lead to possible expansion.
Grundy County has become a favorite target for solar farm companies setting up shop on local farm land. What impact do you think these green energy facilities will have and do you see it as a net gain or loss for the county?
It is difficult to know an exact outcome or final impact solar farms may have on the county. At face value, it would seem that setting up solar farm companies in Grundy would be a financial help to the county by bringing jobs, future developmental possibilities, and taxable revenue. Simply put, I feel it would be a net gain for the county. Green energy has the potential to be beneficial so long as it is not just subsidized by government.
As a conservative, I am in favor of personal property rights and if a farmer wishes to sell or rent his land for solar farms then I feel that it is his right so long as it is done legally and responsibly. That being said, I do believe there should be discussion as to how solar farms may impact topography, property values, long-term upkeep costs, and current energy jobs within our county. It would not be wise to speculate what impact of such solar farms could have without further study in such areas. As a Board member, such research would be one of my priorities.
Expansion from the Chicago metro area is creeping towards Grundy County. Do you think this could be good or bad for the county? What actions should the county take to either encourage the growth or help stave it off?
Expansion that is coming from the Chicago metro area is inevitable due to our proximity to the city. Such expansion has the potential to be either beneficial or problematic. Encouraging or staving off growth does not need to be an either or. If properly handled, economic growth and development can be beneficial for all, so long as it is handled in the right way.
In a state where people and businesses are leaving at a much larger rate than coming or staying, I definitely think that our county should encourage and do all it can to cultivate and retain business expansion within our area. If we want our quality of life to improve and we want future job possibilities for our children, then we must do all we can to get business into Grundy.
At the same time, we must be aware of the dangers Chicago expansion can bring with it. My first loyalty would always be to the residents of Grundy County and I would never seek business growth over the best interests of the people of Grundy. We definitely need to keep Chicago style politics and Cook county taxation out of our county. We need to maintain ethical business practices and integrity within our leadership, neither of which are often seen in Chicago. In addition, we need to do all we can to keep the criminal elements of Chicago outside our county. Supporting law enforcement (and not protesting it), and deterring criminal activity (rather than removing personal legal protection rights) is also necessary in making sure expansion does not devolve into contamination within our great county.
What projects within the county would you like to see addressed during your term, should you be elected?
Beside what has been stated above, there are some projects that I would like to see addressed during my term should I be elected. As a Pastor now for over 10 years in the county my desire has been to help people in many areas. As a board member, I would endeavor to utilize some of the tools available to improve the quality of life for those in our county. I feel as well that I could help bring about a renewed civility within the political environment. There can be disagreements, but I want to remind people to disagree agreeably. I want to also bring about a transparent and informative setting to the county Board. I would like to have a report of some sort sent out to residents regarding Board action conducted, decisions made, and upcoming Board discussions so that people have a better grasp as to what is taking place in Grundy. I would additionally like to cultivate a compassionate conservative approach to spending and fiscal issues that would make some social services available to people in need and also reduce property tax levels. These are just a few of the steps I would take as a Board member in Grundy County.