Peoria Business Community Offers Budget Balancing Proposals

The business community is offering its own suggestions for the city of Peoria’s 2020 budget. 

Sean Garrett is president of the Business Political Action Committee of Central Illinois, or Biz-Pac. He says the city should eliminate public operation of the city-owned Gateway Building at the foot of Hamilton Boulevard.

"Our recommendation is that the city should look to the private sector to potentially operate that building and save money. We believe the building is under-utilized and a private operator would help drive more events and activities to that building," Garrett said. 

Biz-Pac also believes the fire department should no longer respond to falls at assisted living facilities.

"We believe that firemen should be available to help respond to fires and when they go to respond to an assisted living facility, it pulls them away from the ability to respond to fires," he said. 

The city council will discuss the proposed budget tonight. WCBU will air that meeting beginning at 6 p.m.

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