Hurtado: No More 'Business As Usual' at Plainfield Park District

Dear Residents,

The Plainfield Park District Board has approved a new tax levy ordinance for the coming year.  Since that vote, some public statements have questioned the Board’s actions that I feel must be addressed.

When the new Board majority was installed this past May we made it clear that we would no longer accept “business as usual”.  In this specific instance, “business as usual” would have led us to pass an unnecessary increase of the tax levy to the maximum allowed by law regardless of our budget plans for the coming year.

During the public hearing for the tax levy, a former Park Board member spoke against our plans, saying, if I may paraphrase her comments, that the Board was walking away from a potential source of revenue that might be needed down the road – in effect that we should levy higher taxes because we could, not because the money was actually needed. The new Board majority rejects that way of thinking and believe our hard-working taxpayers would agree wholeheartedly.

Your new Plainfield Park District Board majority will no longer spend your tax dollars simply because we can.  We will abide by our pledge and commitment to provide the best park system and programs possible, knowing as well that we are stewards of the tax dollars of our residents.  Through program reviews and adjustments, we will reduce spending whenever possible and make sure we get the most out of each and every dollar with which we are entrusted.  As a resident and a tax payer, I would expect no less from my elected officials.  As one of those elected to serve my neighbors, I hold myself to that same high standard.

Sincerely,

Peter Hurtado

President

Plainfield Park District Board