By Bridget Binsbacher, Peoria City Councilmember, Mesquite District
As a Peoria Councilmember, I carry a fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly. This is no easy task. With a $695 million budget, the City Council must constantly ensure that funds will be used wisely and thoughtfully.
Fortunately, the City of Peoria prides itself on its longstanding financial excellence. Years ago, the Mayor and City Council adopted the Principles of Sound Financial Management, which establish firm guidelines to reinforce our fiscal stewardship. These “rules of the road” set the foundation to maintain an economically thriving community.
How do finance policies shape our daily decisions? For one, they challenge the Council to consider a long-term perspective. They also remind us to work within our means, thoughtfully manage risk, and encourage constant monitoring of performance.
The benefits of this approach can be recognized nationally. Recently, the city of Peoria received a AAA credit rating, the highest rating available. Also, Peoria once again received national awards for Budget Presentation and Financial Reporting. These accomplishments help save taxpayers money when bond financing capital improvements like parks, public safety facilities, and infrastructure.
Strong fiscal management also allow us to maximize new resources. This past fall, the City Council authorized funds to staff several key activities. Looking to bring our public safety to the next level, the Council approved 13 police and 15 fire and medical positions. New staff will be strategically placed to expand city ambulance service, offer new police detectives for investigations, provide additional patrol officers, and support a new training officer.
With an eye on our water resources, the Council also approved two positions in the City Water Department concentrating on conservation and water planning. To responsibly manage continued community growth, the Council added five development and engineering positions as well.
With a national reputation and robust financial principles we can witness just how effective our approach has been. In Peoria, we still enjoy lower tax and utility rates than most of our neighboring communities. It also ensures that, year in and year out, we maintain an incredibly safe community with world class amenities. This is why we choose to call Peoria our home.
If there is something you would like to see in our district, or if you have any concerns, I want to know. Contact me directly at 623-773-7306 or e-mail [email protected]. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
