(Editor's note: This story has been updated with points of clarification noted below).
With early voting beginning in less than two weeks, incumbent Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler, Republican, and his Democrat challenger Bob Daiber, former regional superintendent of schools, answered a few questions that are on top of mind for voters.
What are the biggest challenges facing the county? Please explain your plan to address those.
Prenzler: Many people are leaving our state and county because of high taxes. Some businesses avoid locating here, because of a fear of high taxes.
County government takes less than 8 percent of everyone’s property tax bill, but the first thing my administration did, in 2017, was to lower the county government tax levy by $1.8 million, and we kept it flat in 2018 and 2019.
Five years ago, the county government property tax levy was $.73 per $100 of assessed valuation. This year it’s $.57. That’s 22 percent less.
Because I want to keep the county tax levy as low as possible, I led the county board to put a referendum on the upcoming November ballot to make these tax cuts permanent.
In a nutshell, I will continue working to minimize taxes and keep the county debt-free. I also proposed tax caps on property taxes, and will continue to seek county board approval to put a tax cap referendum on the ballot. That will help keep Madison County a friendly place for business and families.
Daiber: The biggest challenge facing Madison County currently is the COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 virus rates increase, businesses close, schools go to remote learning, social activities are curtailed, and stress increases among residents. We must effectively manage our county with the most knowledgeable professionals.
For that reason, I will establish a COVID-19 task force immediately upon taking office. This task force will work with the Madison County Health Department to provide leadership and guide policy. The task force will outline assistance for people who are unemployed and underemployed due to the pandemic. We must keep our children well so schools can continue to operate, and our teachers do not become ill in the process. Strategies to safely conduct business and carry out our daily lives are important for all residents’ quality of life. By being proactive, hopefully we can keep our businesses and schools open.
Secondly, residents and businesses need property tax relief. We cannot continue to see tax bills increase every year. I have recommended that a bipartisan committee be established to review the assessment process. An individual’s taxable value is the largest determining factor in the property tax calculation. I also, recommend that legislation is drafted to limit the percentage of increased valuation on farmland each year. Farmland assessed valuation has increased as much as 22% the past year on some parcels.
Our communities need assistance with social support programs. The opioid and homeless problem did not end when COVID 19 started. We just don’t hear about it as we did in months prior to the pandemic. There are residents in need of mental health services, as well as wellness programs. These are real needs of our citizens.
Regarding the county budget in particular, what do you propose for dealing with revenue shortfalls caused by COVID shutdowns? Do you see layoffs or cuts? If so, what would have to be cut?
Prenzler: The private sector has been hit hard by COVID and the resulting state-ordered shutdowns. Madison County saw 15,000 new unemployment claims in March and April. Thankfully, we have seen employment bounce back, although not back to where it was in February, pre-COVID.
This Spring we asked departments to tap the brakes. We did not lay off employees, and to avoid future layoffs we are not planning for a cost of living increase next year. We will be postponing non-emergency capital expenditures. We hope the economy can return to where it was last Winter, but if not, we will look hard before hiring new employees or taking on new projects.
Two years ago we began a $14 million jail repair project. We must complete that. We’re 90 percent complete and we’re $1 million under budget.
Tax increases are not an option, and will not be proposed. Madison County is and will remain debt free.
Daiber: First, to truly address the budget, I will work to stop the ongoing litigation expense created by the current administration the past four years which is mounting in hundreds of thousands of dollars. I do not have any intentions to make layoffs or impair wages. I have proposed the cuts will start with the Chairman’s salary, benefits, and administrative hires. I have recommended a 20% reduction in the chairman’s salary reducing it from $109,410 to $87,528. I also proposed eliminating the pension benefit of $11,488 paid by the county. I have gone on record and stated I will decline all health insurance benefits which cost local taxpayers currently $14,392.
Furthermore, I recommend eliminating the positions of Deputy County Administrator which costs $82,854 and the Compliance Manager which costs $119,629 annually. My proposed cuts to the County Board Chair’s budget will save taxpayers more than $1 million over four years.
I will manage the county effectively and efficiently with one full-time county administrator.
Do you support the message of local chamber president Desiree Bennyhoff to Governor Pritzker - re-open our region and re-open our state?
Prenzler: The letter from Desiree Bennyhoff was similar to letters sent by other local chambers: Riverbend, Belleville, Highland, and Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber.
Just this morning I read a letter sent out by more than 80 Metro East pediatricians encouraging in-person instruction, where possible.
At the beginning of the COVID situation, the focus was on closing businesses to slow things down, so hospitals were not overwhelmed. Today, only 15 of 324 regular hospital beds in Madison County have patients with COVID. Of our 54 ICU beds, only 7 have COVID patients.
Of the 110 people who have died with COVID, 80 percent are from nursing homes.
When the hospitals were not overwhelmed, the focus changed to the positivity rate, which was increasing, and last week the Governor ordered bars and restaurants closed.
The county has a health advisory committee that consists of five M.D.s, two R.N.s, a dentist and a chiropractor. There is no consensus of opinion. Some would allow bars and restaurants to re-open, with responsible distancing, masks, etc. Others believe the safer approach is for bars and restaurants to be closed.
We are a part of the greater St. Louis region and our COVID statistics generally mirror the metro area. The St. Louis Pandemic Task Force, which is made up of the four major hospital groups in the metro counties in Missouri, reports daily on at least six metrics, of which positivity is only one.
The most restrictive counties on the Missouri side are St. Louis City and County. All bars and restaurants are open in the City of St. Louis at 50 percent capacity, with closing at 11 p. m. In St. Louis County, bars and restaurants are open, limited to 25 percent capacity, with closing at 10 p.m. Madison County citizens in search of restaurants can easily drive to the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, or other counties.
Many Madison County residents travel to Missouri every day. This happens, whether Madison County restaurants or bars are open or closed.
The closure of local restaurants encourages residents to drive north to Jersey County or west to Missouri. Therefore, I believe it’s fairer to allow Madison County bars and restaurants to operate, with responsible restrictions.
Daiber: Yes. I support re-opening our region, however, I would prefer to say “re-open our county” because that is the jurisdiction I will administer. I believe all businesses should be able to operate and it is an individual’s choice whether they want to patronize the business. In stating that, I believe there are CDC guidelines that do need to be followed to protect customers and employees.
As you meet with small business owners, what are you hearing from them?
Prenzler: Most business owners believe they can be open and operate responsibly. That’s essentially the message from our chambers of commerce.
Daiber: Many small business owners are struggling. Some fear they may not survive another year. Several business owners have discussed creative strategies they have implemented to stay open such as grab-n-go lunches or dinners. Others have created drop boxes and outside curb pickups. I recently had a conversation about the onset of fall and winter months and its impact on outside dining. Business owners have expressed their personal concern for their employee’s safety, so the virus does not wipe out their workforce. I have been impressed with business owners service to the pubic during this pandemic.
Do you approve of Gov. Pritzker's handling of COVID-19? Are there some things he's done well, and not so well? Explain.
Prenzler: I prefer not to politicize the COVID crisis. It came upon this country (and other countries) quickly, and it is not over.
Daiber: Governor Pritzker provided a lot of good information to the general public each day in his briefings at the beginning of the pandemic. He showed leadership and worked with the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide guidelines and necessary PPE for the state. These efforts were commendable as Illinois numbers went down by late May. I have always felt COVID-19 should be managed county-by-county, not regionally or statewide. Each county has different variables relating to its populations and should be managed accordingly.
Do you have concerns in the way the state health department determines "positivity" COVID rates, as some county board members have pointed out that private testers are not required to report "negatives?" If that is true, wouldn't the positivity rate - which is the basis for Pritzker's shutdown/mitigation orders - be inflated?
Prenzler: I have been advised by an official with the Illinois Department of Public Health who assures me that all testing labs, both private and public, report all positives and negatives. That opinion mirrors the opinion of the medical doctors on our county health advisory board.
Daiber: The state health department should establish a standardized COVID-19 testing and reporting policy that is consistent. It should not matter if the test center is private or public, all data should be recorded for an accurate calculation. I also believe there should be a metric that shows the positivity rate in comparison to the total county population, not just the tested population. Our goal as local and state government officials should be to provide accurate information for the safety of our citizens.
Points of clarification in Prenzler’s and Daiber’s QA
On the issue of property taxes, Prenzler wrote that because he wanted to keep the county tax levy as low as possible, “I led the county board to put a referendum on the upcoming November ballot to make these tax cuts permanent.”
Members of his Republican caucus, however, were not all on board with rushing the decision.
Prenzler had to reschedule a vote on his Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) after only three committee members showed up for a specially called meeting during the first week of August.
Then on Aug. 10, the full Board voted 18-6 to postpone discussion of PTELL, moving it beyond the deadline for the November election, some citing the need to do more research to make educated decisions on the subject.
Regarding budgetary concerns, Daiber wrote that to “truly address the budget, I will work to stop the ongoing litigation expense created by the current administration the past four years which is mounting in hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
In 2013, the county Board agreed to a near half-million dollar settlement of a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee of Daiber when he was head of the Regional Office of Education.
Plaintiff Mary B. Parker claimed she received less pay than a male counterpart doing the same job, and that when she complained about it to Daiber she was retaliated against by being terminated.
Her lawsuit was litigated at federal court before District Judge Herndon.
In November 2012, Parker was awarded $100,000 by a jury on a count of retaliation. The jury found in favor of the Regional Office of Education on wage discrimination claims.
Her attorney Shari Rhode of Carbondale had sought $327,164 in fees.
The Regional Office of Education appealed the verdict; the case went to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for settlement negotiations. Later, a $487,500 settlement was announced.