The City of Morris has scheduled a public meeting for September 22, 2008 to consider an amendment to the Morris TIF District Redevelopment Plan.
The City is seeking to add five parcels to the TIF District, including the Community Landfill property. We can expect that the city will then use some or all of the $9,000,000+ that it has accumulated from TIF to pay for the cleanup of the Community Landfill.
Perhaps anticipating the public's disapproval, the Notice contains additional political commentary unnecessary to the purpose of the notice, making the patently false claim that "TIF DOES NOT raise property taxes"
The city's commentary goes on to explain that..."TIF is used merely to reallocate" increased property tax revenues..."
Indeed TIF reallocates tax revenues - taking the money from schools and other taxing bodies, and giving that money to the city. The tax revenue that would have otherwise gone to the schools must be made up - in the form of over $3,000,000 annually in higher property taxes for everyone.
21 comments:
Look for Careen Gordon to introduce legislation to extend the TIF and take even more money away from the schools.
Why isn't the Herald reporting this?
Why does the mayor feel the need to add in the notice, TIF does not raise your taxes? I mean is this a notice or a cover your ass letter.
Belt is not impartial. School boards need to wake up and look out for their schools.
Comments by the city suggesting that the TIF does not raise taxes are insulting to the intelligence of taxpayers. The city is basically saying, We can get away with telling you anything about TIF because you’re too apathetic to care or too stupid to figure out that we’re putting you on. And so far the city has been right.
The school board members must be held accountable if the allow the TIF extension.
This should not happen. Our children's education is at risk in Morris and the city is the kingpin behind our losses. Landfill or no landfill, the money should go back to the schools PERIOD! This is the antics that give TIF a bad name. When used properly it can be an excellent community development tool, when abused.....you get Morris Illinois.
Pat Halloran has already cut a deal with Dickie to extend TIF. He has thrown away District 101's opportunity to eliminate the use of working cash bonds. The school board is oblivious.
Why not put the Gebhart Woods park in the TIF district? That way we can save the trout!
So, if the land fill gets put into the TIF district, it will pay for the millions in fines and legal fees?
Careen is for the children. She won't vote for a law to extend the TIF.
Halloran has sold out his district for a few free lunches at Chapin's.
Seriously, is anyone up for a grass roots effort to take care of this money grab once and for all? Thousands of local taxpayers, once informed of the TRUTH on this matter, will be up in arms. Better do something before it's too late.
I'm bewildered. What does Careen Gordon have to do with the Morris TIF extension?
What is the take with district 54? Is Sup, the Imperial Margarine queen, and the "Open" board going for/against the TIF extension? I think I just answered my own question - We probably won't know until they come out of their closed session minutes before the city tries to extend it.
To 1:03,
The TIF can be extended for up to twelve years, but only by an act of the legislature.
If the money stockpiled from TIF by the city is not properly spent by the end of the TIF (currently set for 2009), it must be returned to the taxing bodies from which it was plundered. The school districts are missing their golden opportunity to end the cycle of borrowing and to lower taxes for residents.
The city collects about $3.5 million in TIF money from property taxes each year. There are about 2,500 parcels of real estate within the TIF.
Do the math.
The Morris TIF adds, on average, $1,400 in property taxes to every tax bill. Every year.
Holy Shinikies
Riddle: What is Dickie's favorite band? The Doobie Brothers!! Ha Ha Ha!
What happened at the scheduled 9/22/08 meeting??? Expiring minds want to know.
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