Opposition Group Says Build the Block Won't Create as Many Jobs

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By Gina Ford

Story Published: Mar 26, 2009 at 5:39 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 26, 2009 at 6:19 PM CDT

Citizens For Responsible Spending – the group opposing the Peoria museum referendum, says museum backers aren't telling the public the truth.

Three college professors reviewed the pro–museum economic impact study of two Bradley Professors.

Citizens for Responsible Spending says the Bradley University professors wildly overstated the number of jobs the museum project is expected to create.

"On Dr. Carlson and Dr. Betts' report, it said, "continued spending will not create additional new jobs each year as the author suggests. Using the author's estimate, the continued annual spending would create a total of only 80 jobs over the 18–year period," said Karrie Alms with Citizens for Responsible Spending.

Officials of Citizens for Responsible Spending say the hundreds of jobs needed to "Build the Block" would end as soon as the project was completed.

In addition, they say the 14 to one return on a proposed sales tax hike, is purely optimistic.

Citizens for Responsible spending say the analysis of independent economists was needed for the public to hear the whole story.

The authors of the original impact study did not make themselves available for comment on Thursday.

Friday, Mar 27 at 11:08 AM dispicable wrote ...

how many people did CAT just lay off in peoria? now the city of peoria and CAT, wants all those laid off workers to help build a CAT museum through higher taxes?! UN-BELIEVEABLE.

Friday, Mar 27 at 8:24 AM Vonster wrote ...

Save Peoria Block the Block! Fail the Trail!

Friday, Mar 27 at 3:09 AM Richard wrote ...

The community was given a modern building and parking deck in need of some repair and renovation for a new mission. This facility could have made a wonderful multi-use museum. The museum group charged with exploiting this wonderful asset choose to spend almost as much money tearing it down as it would have cost to renovate and repair it. Now they want the tax payers to pay for the mess they have created. Actions like this with public funds is nearly criminal.

Thursday, Mar 26 at 10:41 PM Lori wrote ...

Of course it won't bring more jobs for the people in Peoria.If they want to build anything down there.Build a park.I bet they think that this will create more tourist to our area.I don't see that happening in the next couple of years or so.MY VOTE WILL BE NO!"

Thursday, Mar 26 at 9:11 PM Scott wrote ...

I would like to see what the actual attendance of the museum will be after one year. And by “actual” attendance, I do not mean kids on school field trips. I could see them counting every kid coming thru for field trips in order to pump up their numbers.

Thursday, Mar 26 at 9:05 PM Scott wrote ...

I have no doubt that there will be a lot of people go to the museum when it first opens. But, after you have went one time, how often are you going to go back? The problem with downtown Peoria is the complete lack of anything to do on a regular basis. Downtown Peoria does not need another bar or restaurant. We do not eat anywhere downtown because there is nothing to do there afterwards (no movie theaters, no shopping to speak of and so on)Grand Prairie should have been developed downtown

Thursday, Mar 26 at 7:02 PM Josie wrote ...

It's the same old stuff, politicians and members of the vested interest museum group are willing to compromise their values, "LIE" in order to get what they want. If this project was such a great idea private investor would be jumping all over it. Quite honestly I beleive CAT is having second thoughts and will not be disappointed when this doesn't pass. They can then pll out of the project gracefully.

Thursday, Mar 26 at 6:06 PM more truth wrote ...

the museum group also fails to mention that alot of the data and figures mentioned by the two professors are actually coming from the members of the museum group!

Thursday, Mar 26 at 6:03 PM Bob wrote ...

Well I am no college professor and I could have told you that. It's just real easy to figure out the people are going to get taxed and taxed then the people wanting this museum well say we were wrong sorry. But were going to need more of your money to keep it going.

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