Steve Kerr chaired the meeting –
· Treasurer Jim Stuttle presented financials for review and discussion.
· 2019 Budget – Motion was made to close to public comment and approved. A Motion was then made to approve the 2019 Budget. Approval was unanimous.
· Mark Matusak attended the Peoria City Council Meeting on 11/27/18. There was no funding level adjustment. He stated that he felt there was confusion by some members not understanding the City of Peoria owns Springdale Cemetery which makes a difference in perception regarding funding. There was agreement that there would be an effort to educate and dispel this perception.
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The Peoria County Board of Election Commissioners met on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, with commissioners Bartolo and Burke absent.
​  Under approval of bills, two large items stood out. The Verizon bill included election day, and rent will include January 2019.
   The Commission approved the purchase of pollbook software from VR Systems of Tallahassee, Florida. It was one of two low vendors. Peoria County IT looked at it, along with Director Tom Bride and assistant Elizabeth Gannon, who felt it best served the County's needs.
  The election office has started planning for the city primary in February. They will be sending out letters to polling places. Early voting will be held in the election office, hopefully with three days of voting in a downtown location. Director Bride prefers the main library, but it is closed on Sundays. The Commission will approve the schedule in January.
  The subcommittee looking into efficiencies after the November election should have its report ready next month. The State's Attorney reported on the challenges to candidate petitions, both of which have now been deemed invalid.
  Early voting and vote by mail will begin on January 17, 2019.
​Irene Pritzker, Observer

                        http://www.peoriagov.org/city-council/meetings/
   Interesting, yet very long meetings! I admit that I do not attend all City Council meetings and so it is nice to have the podcast/video available. I was especially discouraged when I watched the December 4 meeting. At about 1 hour:25 minutes, the council’s frustration with the budget and with citizens/business groups’ input (criticism) was not well received. There were repeated comments about the small percentage (@11%) of our real estate tax bill going to the City, which is kind of true. Actually, it is @14% if you include the garbage fee which is the city’s. Also, when you look at all your utility bills with charges, fees or taxes- stormwater fee, electric/gas charge, cell phone fee/tax, water bill fee/tax, GPSD charge/fee, you understand that real estate taxes aren’t the only money the city collects from us. And, now a pension fee.   Please pay attention to the At-Large City Council candidates in the Primary Election on February 26. We need the ten best candidates to continue to the April election. Go to candidate forums. Ask the candidates for specifics –such as, what is the candidate’s specific solution for the budget? How will they work with other council persons to sell their solution?
Cheryl Budzinski, Observer