PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria County leaders are seeking some help from the federal government for some of its programs.
The leaders held a meeting with 17th District Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Moline) on Tuesday at the Peoria City/County Health Department. The meeting involved a roundtable discussion on what the most pressing needs are, followed by a facility tour.
The county leaders in attendance included County Board Chairman Jimmy Dillon, Peoria County Regional Office of Education Head George McKenna, Coroner Jamie Harwood, and Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson.
The concerns hit a wide range of topics inside the health department building. One concern centered on addressing food and housing insecurities within the county. Harwood connected increasing truancy rates and decreasing literacy rates as problems that can lead youth to drugs and violence. Hendrickson raised concerns that federal funding for prevention programs were being cut.
Sorensen says he doesn’t believe Peoria County residents should have their taxes raised to fund the programs, and instead called for making billionaires “pay more” to fund programs.
“The fact that the federal government, that the administration is giving all these tax breaks to billionaires, and then we have to find the pennies and dimes and nickels on the floor, that’s wrong,” Sorensen said.
Sorensen says funding the programs ensures viability of the next generation of Peoria residents.
Comments