Jeff Battinus: Buffalo Grove Trustee Write-In Candidate

Name: Jeff Battinus

Age: 32

Family: Mary (Wife 32) & Sophia (Daughter 7mos)

Education:  BA Philosophy, University of Illinois Chicago, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo Mendoza Argentina (1yr Exchange Student), MBA – University of Phoenix Ground Campus, Tempe AZ

Occupation: Human Resources

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices:  Buffalo Grove Board of Heath, 2010-Present: National Health Service Corps Ambassador, 2009-Present: Branch Chief: US Coast Guard Auxiliary, International Affairs-Interpreter Corps.

Position sought: Village Trustee

Campaign E-mail address: jeffreybattinus@msn.com

Campaign committee: Elect Jeff Battinus

Campaign Website: electjeffbattinus.yolasite.com

Campaign Facebook: facebook.com/battinus

Campaign Twitter: N/A

Why are you running?

1. To be directly accountable for the future of my community.
2. Volunteerism is a core pillar of being a productive member of the community; there is no higher form of volunteering than putting yourself out there, actually running for office.
3. Choice, offering the residents a choice in this election. Filing as a write-in offers them the opportunity to decide this election, instead of the residents of Buffalo Grove only having the current incumbents to choose from on April 9th. 

In what ways would the village benefit from your service?

My skillsets in human resources, strategic staffing, and talent acquisition, coupled with my knowledge of budgeting and business management can offer a level of diversity, and fiscal responsibility to the Board. 

What is the biggest challenge the village faces and what should be done to address it?

Per the recent budget as it stands, without additional revenue BG will be running at a deficit of 2 million dollars annually in FY14 and beyond. We have reduced our municipal employee headcount by 7% year over year for several years to reduce costs, this is not sustainable, and not fair to our employees, doing more with less is simply non-sustainable. There are nearly 100 currently listed vacant businesses in Buffalo Grove, if filled these businesses would generate the necessary revenue to stave off the deficit, and permit Buffalo Grove to increase municipal employee headcount and services to the community. 

I am against raising revenue via increasing taxes, and I am against lowering expenses by cutting services or staff.

To address this, I feel we need to follow the example of many of our neighboring communities. Make Buffalo Grove a more stable and attractive place to do business. My solution is simple, offer across the board incentives to businesses who add revenue to Buffalo Grove. This includes incentives to draw businesses to the Village, while enticing existing businesses to grow and expand operations within the Village. We offer a standardized tiered incentive program for all businesses who decide to move to Buffalo Grove, or who decide to expand their operations. This is an investment in our business community, and an investment in our community. 

What do you think the village does well?

1. Our community has been through tough fiscal times, and has shown a very strong discipline to maintain fiscal conservancy. 

Our community programs outreach and volunteer programs, and safety programs including Police and Fire departments. Although they can always be improved, we boast some of the best in the State. 

What should be some of the village’s priorities over the next four years?

Building business incentive programs to reduce the nearly 100 storefront and business vacancies. Stopping the impending 2 million dollar annual deficit, by generating additional revenue without tax increases or cuts in services or employees.

What are your thoughts on the recent proposal to convert the Buffalo Grove Golf Course into a downtown? What do you think are some of its pros and cons?

The proposal is still very new, and there are a great deal of unanswered questions. My main concern is how the over 170 Million Dollars that the developer will not pay for will be raised to pay for the development. I support progress, however it must be fiscally conservative, not raise taxes, and in the best interest of the vast majority of all residents in Buffalo Grove. This is why I support developments and projects of this magnitude going to a referendum to allow the people the opportunity to choose.

What else would you like voters to know?

I look forward to serving the people of Buffalo Grove, and am always available to listen to your comments and concerns. For all updates on my campaign, or to reach me directly visit the Elect Jeff Battinus facebook page at facebook.com/Battinus