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Barrett Pedersen believes that taxpayers deserve strong, professional
financial management and extraordinary accountability. He put that
vision into action when he first set about repairing the Village’s
financial position.
When first elected Village
President, Mayor Pedersen’s first priority was to put and keep the
Village’s financial house in order.
Out of respect for the taxpayers,
Mayor Pedersen has continued a disciplined approach to spending and
insisted on always balancing the budget. He ordered a comprehensive
audit and set about repairing the balance sheets and institute
accepted accounting and financial reporting practices. Repairing the
poor financial position he originally inherited has reaped many
benefits, including being recognized for excellence by the Government
Finance Officers Association.
Standard and Poor’s awarded the
Village an investment grade bond rating for the first time in its
history and it now stands at an A+ Bond Rating. Under Mayor
Pedersen’s leadership, cost saving measures and increased
efficiencies are evident in every department.
Creating jobs and attracting and
retaining business underlies Mayor Pedersen’s vision for a vital
community. Knowing that increased business activity lowers the tax
burden on homeowners, Pedersen has aggressively pursued polices that
attract new business and investment for Franklin Park, the 6th
largest industrial employer in Illinois. The Village presently has
1.8 million square feet of industrial property under redevelopment
with a value of over $400 million.
His insistence on a “business
friendly” attitude at Village Hall has simplified the permit
process. Most employees have undergone two seminars of customer
service training to ensure you are treated politely, respectfully,
and as quickly as possible. He established the Franklin Park
Partnership and works closely with these business leaders to develop
policies that will help them prosper.
These efforts have given Franklin
Park a lower than average property tax rate, lower than some of our
neighbors.
Prior to being elected Village
President, Barrett served as Trustee on the Franklin Park Public
Library Board, as a Commissioner of Franklin Park’s Cable
Television Commission, later as a Trustee on the Village Board and
finally as Village Prosecutor for 13 years.
Barrett was one of seven children
born and raised in Franklin Park. As Village President, he has worked
to maintain our Village as a family-focused community.
While many communities have had to
cut back on festivals and events, Mayor Pedersen sought assistance
from the business community to sponsor the cost of Railroad Daze and
other festivals in order to make them revenue neutral events. A high
quality of life, good schools and varied cultural and recreational
offerings attract families into Franklin Park and encourage our
families to stay and raise their families here.
Barrett has developed and nurtured
critical regional partnerships to secure the completion of the Elgin
O’Hare Western Access and to continue to foster regional
cooperation to accomplish our mutual goals. He was appointed by
former Governor Quinn to the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Advisory
Council, a group that is guiding the construction and funding of this
nationally significant project that will create over 65,000 jobs
permanent new jobs and 35,000 construction jobs. His financial
abilities were honored by being appointed to the Illinois Finance
Authority Board.
Barrett enlisted in the United
States Air Force upon graduating from Holy Cross High School. He
received a degree in Urban Studies from Elmhurst College with Honors
and graduated from Chicago Kent College of Law with a Juris Doctorate
Degree.
Mayor Pedersen is active in
community service projects. Barrett has been involved in community
service since he was a young Boy Scout. His Eagle Scout project was
to organize a walk-a-thon to raise over $5,000.00 in goods for the
Reed Mental Health Center. He was a volunteer each year for the
annual Paul G. Ruch Memorial Food Drive until it was
discontinued. Barrett assisted with sandbagging in September 2008,
2010 and 2011 when Franklin Park residents experienced severe
flooding.
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