Promises, Promises...

We are being forewarned. The Journal Star reports that the upcoming City budget will be VERY tight. Really? Ya think? I can't recall a time when local, state, or national government reported, "Yup. Thanks to generous tax payers we have plenty of revenue. No problems here." What about the $2 million surplus last year brought to us by the special census and The Shoppes at Grand Prairie? We can absolutely bank on politicians suggesting that any surplus be spent on non-essentials instead of banking unexpected revenue for the ever rising health care and pension costs of City employees.

Peoria City Council will receive a preliminary 2006 budget in early October. This budget will be the first real test of our newly elected "essential services first" City Council. Those who voted the last regime out will be watching this new crew very closely and we expect any extra to go to repealing the $6 per month garbage fee that is now being applied to our water bills, replacing sidewalks, opening Fire Station 11 to full capacity, etc. You know, the decisions made by the last administration that disgusted you so much when you campaigned for your current job... Or so you said.

If this new administration votes to spend more for parks, basketball hoops, or neighborhood association newsletters, they will need to be reminded of promises made and the very reason Ardis, Manning, Van Auken, were elected to their new posts and Spears and Nichting were re-elected.

I recall a Letter to the Editor that Bob Manning wrote to the Journal Star after the "progressives" voted to take vital fire fighting equipment out of service due to budget restraints. The Journal Star editorialists chastised him for threatening the then Council with serious regret for such a move. Manning wrote back, "It isn't a threat, it's a promise."

It sure would be refreshing to see a Council keep its promises.