• About
    • Current Issues
    • Who We Are
    • 101 Years Strong >
      • Articles on history
    • Board and Committees
    • Calendar
  • Join Us
    • LWVGP Membership
    • Select Membership
    • Donate
  • Newsletters
    • 2023 Newsletters
    • 2022 Newsletters
    • Past Newsletters
    • Email Sign Up
  • Observer Reports
    • Observer Reports
  • Voter Resources
LWVGP | League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria
  • About
    • Current Issues
    • Who We Are
    • 101 Years Strong >
      • Articles on history
    • Board and Committees
    • Calendar
  • Join Us
    • LWVGP Membership
    • Select Membership
    • Donate
  • Newsletters
    • 2023 Newsletters
    • 2022 Newsletters
    • Past Newsletters
    • Email Sign Up
  • Observer Reports
    • Observer Reports
  • Voter Resources

Peoria should explore buying water company

1/1/2017

 
​By David Ransburg and Lowell
Posted Nov 3, 2017 at 5:00 PM
  
As the two most recent former mayors of the city of Peoria, we have been following with great interest the current discussion over the future of the water system. During our tenures, the question of remunicipalizing our water system was explored but never fully pursued. We regret not having done so.
It is evident that a public water system has great potential for Peoria residents. From significant revenue for the city to local control of our most valuable asset to greater stability in rates, a city-owned water system could be of meaningful long-term and short-term benefit.
Since we served, much has changed. Consider:
* Peoria’s budget deficit has gotten more severe and the need for additional revenue is greater than ever. The City Council would do a disservice to its taxpayers not to explore every option before cutting services or raising taxes.
* During the past 12 years, residential rates charged by Illinois American Water Company have increased more than 60 percent, much greater than the rate of inflation. The Council should try to limit this hidden tax upon every Peorian.
* With the severe drought in the Southwest, we are much more sensitive to the value of water and who controls it. A publicly owned water system would safeguard this life-sustaining natural resource for our children and grandchildren.
* Two well-respected civic organizations, the CEO Council and the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, have done independent analyses and arrived at similar conclusions. Both urged the City Council to conduct the due diligence to arrive at a purchase price. If this support had been available when we were mayor, we are confident the the City Council would have had more and better information to go forward with due diligence and possible purchase.
What’s clear is that the city of Peoria does not have enough revenue to support our current level of service. The water system has a revenue stream the city could access to benefit all Peorians, if it could be purchased for a “fair” price.
We write to urge the City Council to take this unique opportunity to find out what the cost of the water system would be. If the city gets an appraisal that is excessively high, we will be the first to say a purchase should not proceed. If, however, the appraisal price is affordable, the Council and the citizenry will know the facts, and we would support municipalizing the water system.
This is really a simple question: Do the people of Peoria want to know the cost of purchasing this public asset? We urge the Council to say yes.
David P. Ransburg
Mayor, 2001-2005
Lowell “Bud” Grieves
Mayor, 1997-2001

Comments are closed.
    Become a Member

    View by Date

    December 2023
    February 2023
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    January 2018
    January 2017
    January 2015

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Environmental Issues
    GP Sanitary District
    Health Department
    Issues
    Letter To Editor
    Member Reports
    News Release
    Observer Reports (LOGO)
    Peoria City Council
    Peoria County
    Peoria Election Commission
    Peoria Heights Board Of Trustees
    Peoria Housing Authority
    Peoria Landfill Committee
    Peoria Park District
    Peoria Public Schools Board
    Peoria Township
    Positions
    Springdale Cemetery
    Tri-County Regional Planning
    Tri County Regional Planning Commission
    Water

Serving the people of Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties in Illinois​.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria encourages informed and active participation in government and works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Any person, 16 or older, male or female, may join.

The LWV is nonpartisan and neither supports nor opposes candidates for elected office but does act on issues after member study and consensus.
Become a member
Copyright © League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy
  • About
    • Current Issues
    • Who We Are
    • 101 Years Strong >
      • Articles on history
    • Board and Committees
    • Calendar
  • Join Us
    • LWVGP Membership
    • Select Membership
    • Donate
  • Newsletters
    • 2023 Newsletters
    • 2022 Newsletters
    • Past Newsletters
    • Email Sign Up
  • Observer Reports
    • Observer Reports
  • Voter Resources