Good Afternoon,

By now you have probably all once again raised our property taxes and are probably at Ruth Cris patting each other on the back and living large on taxpayer dollars. However, sooner or later this
body will have to learn how to govern for the people instead of for the special
interests. While there are some great council members who care about the
citizens of Jacksonvillle the majority of the city council remains disconnected
from reality.

You feel that if you build it people will come, you are wrong.

You think that government creates jobs, you are wrong.

You think that taxes can be raised indefinitely without it hurting our city, you are wrong.

You think that government workers are more important than the taxpayers, you are wrong.

Below is an article about a city that sounds like a great place to live. Instead of creating fees they are eliminating them. Instead of raising property taxes they are lowering them.

Please read this article and consider benchmarking their system of government.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Schaumburg-Officials-May-Lower-Property-Taxes-103947993.html?dr

While this city doesn’t have a government provided:

· Horse riding center

· Football stadium

· Corporate welfare

· Charities

· Van to take city council people to fancy restaurants

· No-bid landfill

· Journey or children’s commission

· Emergency no-bid batting cage

The citizens of this town don’t seem to be complaining because they have a higher standard of living than we do here in Jacksonville. They don’t have super high unemployment and foreclosure rates. You
see when you don’t have a high tax rate businesses hire employees and employees
pay their mortgage. While they don’t have all the so called free* services they
are much happier than the people of Jacksonville. When you don’t have an
unsustainable tax burden you don’t need government services.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Schaumburg-Officials-May-Lower-Property-Taxes-103947993.html?dr

If for some reason you are still deliberating on the millage rate. Please keep it at this year’s level. You will already be hiking our taxes just by doing that. I feel it is a fair compromise.

Disappointed in Most of You,

Phillip Laibe