Republican challenger for county board hopes to improve Williamson
WILLIAMSON CO.—Dennis Falmier is the Democrat candidate running against Republican Ron Ellis for County Commissioner in Williamson County; and Falmier’s campaign motto is “A Full Time Commissioner For Williamson County.”
Dennis is from Herrin and has worked over twenty years in the coal industry.
“I know the importance of bringing and keeping good paying jobs in our area,” Falmier said. He currently works in the automobile business, and told Disclosure he understands how government can “help a business grow and hire more people.”
Williamson County dedication
Born and raised in Williamson County, Falmier wants “the opportunity to represent the fine people of Williamson County.
“There is nothing like hard work,” he stated, noting that he will “bring to the office common sense and an attitude of respect.”
Further, Falmier says he will work to see that “our county gets the maximum benefits from our tax dollars with as little waste as possible.”
He said that he will vote against property tax increase.
“The last option for balancing a budget should be to ask taxpayers to pay more money to live in their homes,” he pointed out, following that by saying that the county should “cut waste and use other revenue sources instead of always relying on property tax increases.”
To cut and not to cut
Falmier said that there seems to be a significant problem with the county’s maintenance of roads, this, he says, due to the County Highway Department’s budget being cut drastically in recent years.
As to that, Falmier has promised that as county commissioner, he will vote to increase the highway department budget.
“It is important that our roadways are maintained and the county property is kept up,” Falmier said. “Properly-maintained roads make it safer for people driving, and it encourages job growth.”
And as for cutting in certain areas, Falmier is positive of one such cut: He will vote to repeal the recent pay increase the current county board gave themselves.
“In tough economic times and with a tight budget, the last thing the County Board should have done is vote themselves a pay raise,” Falmier said, noting that he feels a county commissioner should serve full time and not take a pay increase when property taxes are being raised and department budgets are being cut.
Falmier is being backed in his campaign by Operating Engineers 318, Southern Illinois Laborers and the IBEW.
Incumbent Ellis hopes to retain seat on Williamson County board
Republican Ron Ellis hopes to be re-elected to serve as a Williamson County Commissioner.
Ellis is a business owner and Certified Public Accountant and believes it is possible to run a government like a business.
Good financials reported
During his time spent as county commissioner, Ellis says what he is most proud of regarding what the Williamson County Board of commissioners have accomplished is “financially related.
“Every year for the last four years we have had a balanced budget,” Ellis told Disclosure, adding that Williamson is the only county in southern Illinois with a cash reserve. “There is $1.3 million dollars in cash reserve,” Ellis elaborated on the numbers.
Ellis also pointed out that the new jail, a $22.8 million dollar project, came in $200,000 under budget. The excess was used to purchase the needed equipment for the kitchen and laundry.
“There was no tax increase to cover the cost the building nor the cost of thirteen new security jobs,” Ellis said.
Re-energizing
Ellis also mentioned that the county’s revolving loan has been “re-energized.”
“By doing so,” he explained, “five local businesses have started or expanded creating 32 new jobs and saving over 20 jobs.”
Ellis said that for the first time since 1992, tax bills were mailed in May, giving taxpayers extra time to make payments. County tourism tax for hotels and motels, he noted, decreased from 5 percent to 2 percent. By restructuring insurance costs, the county has saved more than one million dollars per year, and this was passed on to the taxpayers by reducing real estate taxes.
Ellis said the recycling program has grown four times with the cost being greatly reduced by restructuring of it. Another program restructured was the General Assistance Program. This restructuring, Ellis said, saved the county over $100,000 per year.
As well, a $25,000 annual grant for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates, a voice for children who are victims of sexual and other crimes) was created using the new video gaming machines tax program.
And the county now has an inventory system to keep track of all the county’s assets, both inside and outside of buildings.
New program might resolve fines issue
Ellis said he is excited about a new program the county is wanting to implement.
“There are over 8 million dollars in unpaid fines over the last seven years,” he said. “A meeting is planned with the state’s attorney (Brandon Zanotti) and Chief Judge (James R. Williamson) to see if we can get these unpaid fines taken out of the Illinois state income tax of the people who owe them.”
Ellis was quick to point out that he hasn’t said “I” have done this or that.
“I’m just stating that these are some of the things that have happened during my time in office,” he pointed out. “We check our politics at the door. We don’t always agree,” he said of the county board; “we just each want what is best for the people of Williamson County.”