The Peoria County Board will consider road funding next year that includes no property tax increases and a delayed road project. The Board also will take up a measure to spend up to $1 million from its economic development account to fund highway department operations. County Board member Andrew Rand says the County needs to have a road study and get public input before raising taxes:
“Until you explain to the community what the problem is, both revenue and expense is, we have no business pretending raising taxes 2.5 cents is going to accomplish a thing.”
Rand says the Board will also in consider making up for the flat property tax rate by delaying a road repair project on Willow Knolls next year. The full Board is set to vote on the 2015 budget during a special meeting next week.
The County is also hoping to have 40 employees sign up for a voluntary retirement plan next year. It's not clear how many have signed up so far. But County staff say there's enough people to save $688,000 next year.