Two Peoria County Board candidates are vying for the sixth district seat in the November general election. Republican Zach Oyler is challenging Democratic incumbent Allen Mayer. Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports:
Peoria County is facing a $3.5 million budget deficit next year. Staff is proposing a voluntary retirement plan and hiring a consultant to find more ways to save money. Caterpillar manager and board seat challenger Zach Oyler says the County could save money by passing on the consultant and having Board members themselves working with department heads to find savings:
“The best way to do it is to be right there on the ground floor understanding the things that are going on, and being a piece of that solution, rather than just looking through paperwork and making decisions from the bench.”
Oyler also says he wants to know how county services would be impacted when staff retirements take place. He also says other options should be looked at, including layoffs, if not enough people sign up for the retirement plan. Incumbent Allen Mayer also says everything is on the table to cut costs, but he says he would first try to work with county unions to save money:
“What we would have to do is enter into good faith negotiations with the various bargaining units to make sure we can achieve the savings that we need to.”
Mayer says previous union negotiations suggest some bargaining units have been open to talking about furloughs or reduced hours for their members. Mayer is an attorney with the state Department of Commerce and Economic opportunity.
Both County Board candidates also have differing views on the $45-million Heddington Oaks nursing facility in West Peoria. Oyler says the facility would run better if a private group helped the County get better deals on buying supplies:
“Or whether it’s looking at the potential to have a private firm operate the nursing home. This is not about eliminating the nursing home or taking the service away. It’s about ensuring that it operates effectively so that we can continue to provide it.”
Oyler says he thinks that it’s unlikely the County could sell the facility outright at this time.
Mayer says the County has remained in the nursing home business for 150 years, and that should continue. He says the County hired an outside firm that supported the business plan for the nursing facility:
"What they said is yes, you are going to be break even in your operations within a few years. The facility is very attractive, you’re in the right demographic niche, there’s only going to be an increasing demand for this sort of thing.”
Both candidates say they are against tax increases, while both support looking at service fee increases to help fill next year’s projected budget gap. The winner of the sixth district Peoria County Board seat in next month’s election serves a four year term.