Kevin Burns: Mitchell Committee's Kane County Spending Proposal at Odds with Lauzen Pledge

To the Editor:

I’m happy to see that the has revisited the budget as proposed by Finance Committee Chairman Jim Mitchell.

Mr. Mitchell proposed a budget that would increase revenues and spending on county operations during this period of declining property values, increasing unemployment and shrinking household budgets. I support the recommendations made this morning by the Kane County Board to reject these increases.

What is surprising is Finance Committee Chairman Mitchell, also serving as for the Tri-Cities, bringing this citizen-unfriendly budget forward. It certainly is at odds with Mr. Lauzen’s pledge to freeze county taxes. Does Mr. Lauzen support this budget or does he disagree with his own campaign chairman on this fundamental aspect of his platform?

As County Board chairman, I would have called for a zero-growth budget for 2012-2013, and I am happy to see others on the board taking steps to move the budget in that direction.

Kevin Burns
Geneva Mayor, Candidate for Kane County Board Chair