| 08/03/2016 12:16 pm |
Forum Addict
Regist.: 07/25/2016
Topics: 45
Posts: 0
 OFFLINE | The Village of Tinley Park is a taxpayer-funded entity that exists to provide necessary services to residents. When it comes to taxpayer-funded Village property and buildings, taxpayers expect their public facilities/property to be taken care of and kept in good order. This expectation does NOT include constructing public properties with the most expensive details and architecturally costly additions... which requires taxpayer-funded costly upkeep. In actuality, Village properties should be simple, unassuming and economical. Instead of taxpayers funding the extravagance of the Village, it would be nice if taxpayers had reduced tax bills, allowing them the funds to further improve the community through investments in their personal property.
The Village endorses spending for departments to update offices, vehicles, and purchase gym equipment, expensive chairs, top of the line tablets, and the latest items on departmental wish lists. HOWEVER, Village offices do not need to be updated, office/managerial staff vehicles can be aged, employees should use the finely equipped park district gym, and office equipment/technology can be purchased at more reasonable costs. If Village office and managerial staff did not use Village vehicles for personal use, the wear and tear would be minimal and the vehicles would last longer. The number of vehicles could even be reduced if Village staff shared a vehicle for work purposes. For the sake of the residents, Tinley Park must become fiscally responsible and reduce its spending habits to alleviate tax burdens.
Properly appointing our police and fire departments with the necessary equipment and technology to effectively serve the residents is always a top priority. Properly appointing our water and maintenance departments with the necessary equipment and technology to effectively maintain and keep infrastructure in top working order is also a top priority. As far as staffing is concerned, technology has advanced to a level where office staff can be downsized, technology services can be outsourced, and various employment positions can be combined or cut due to use of new technology and advancements. New ways of thinking are desperately needed in Tinley Park.
Lastly, the Village manager has received approval to spend $25,000 on a "pay study". We hope that our Village manager is not solely looking at Orland Park (or any other municipality's) spending habits to justify a continuation of excessive spending in Tinley Park. Despite similar population, Tinley Park and Orland Park have different features and different revenue streams. Orland Park (see page 1) has a larger sales tax base/sales tax revenue, while Tinley Park (see page 1) heavily burdens it's property owners. Also, comparing public employee wages/benefits to neighboring municipalities will only gauge costs of public sector employees - instead, compare public wages/benefits to the PRIVATE SECTOR, where the majority of taxpayers are employed. Furthermore, the cost of public servant benefits (health, pension, vehicle, etc) are a form of compensation/deferred compensation and Village wages should be adjusted to reflect the cost of these benefits. Since private sector taxpayers provide the majority of the municipality revenue, local private sector wages/benefits MUST be included in pay study comparisons. |
|
|
Tinley Taxpayers Unite
> Village of Tinley Park > Village Spending
The Village is not an income producing entity
OFFLINE