In April 2009, Peoria County voters approved a ¼% sales tax increase for public facilities, the proceeds of which would be used to help construct the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Leading up to the referendum, Peoria County and museum officials made several promises to voters. We were told the project would include an IMAX-brand theater. We were told, “If the referendum passes, the County Board has committed to issuing up to $40 million in Revenue Bonds for the museum,” and, “If more money is needed, the Museum Collaborative will need to seek additional funding from other sources.” We were told that construction would not start until all the money was raised.
Since the referendum passed, the project has changed:
- An IMAX theater may no longer be part of the project.
- General obligation bonds are being issued instead of revenue bonds.
- More than $40 million in bonds are being issued.
- Private funding has not been secured before construction is scheduled to begin.
- A needed $5 million state grant has not been awarded before construction of the parking deck is scheduled to begin.
Because of these significant changes to the project, we believe Peoria County voters deserve the opportunity to approve or disapprove these changes at the ballot box.
A petition drive is underway to put the issuance of these museum bonds to a referendum. We need to gather no less than 9,849 signatures of registered voters in Peoria County by September 27 to put the issuance of these bonds on the February 22, 2011, primary election ballot.
To get involved, please contact us at info@blockthebonds.com or use our contact form. A downloadable petition is now available from this site. See our Circulate Petitions page.
Karrie Alms, Citizens for Responsible Spending, 258-7762
Brad Harding, Peoria County Board, District 16, 868-9974
Gary Sandberg, At-Large Peoria City Council, 678-2280
C. J. Summers, Citizens for Responsible Spending, 673-8177
Merle Widmer, Peoria County Board, District 11, 692-2591