The city is about to spend $12 Million on a new city hall, using TIF money.
TIF funds consist largely of taxes diverted from schools. Eveyone's taxes must go up to cover the difference. What's more, TIF money is not supposed to be used to build new municipal buildings on prime real estate. It is intended to revitalize blighted areas. The theory being that the redeveloped property will produce more property taxes than were lost by the schools in the first instance. The municipal building will generate no property taxes and no sales taxes.
City officials know full well that they are misusing TIF. They also know that there is no penalty for doing so, except at the ballot box.
For a good summary of how TIF works, and its potential abuses, see the Citizen Advocacy Center website
43 comments:
In April, the new building was estimated to cost $9.3 Million, not the $12.5 Million being reported now. See my previous post on this subject.
Where is it that you found the fact that TIF isn't to be used for a public building? If TIF was used for the most blighted area in Morris, wouldn't that be the paper mill? If you spent 12 million on the mill property and then redeveloped the property wouldn't that qualify as revitalizing a blighted area, and then that area could supply new tax dollars back to the schools where it was originally taken from. Paulson made all sorts of promises like that when he originally ran. He hasn't accomplished one thing. Now he is Chairman of finance and the Mayors right hand man and he is going to spend it on a city hall. Why is it we need a new city hall? Couldn't they build a new city hall or police department on the city owned property across the street from the Methodist Church? It appears the layout of city hall is a lot of wasted space. If the city gave the police station to the city hall then how much money would be cut out of the proposed building, to build just a police station like initially intended? Then if the city didn't have to worry about buying new furniture, curtains, blinds and such maybe they would have enough money to settle the police union contract that Dick has been playing King Dick with. Where are the union people who so strongly support Dick? Why is it that you don't remind him where he came from? What's with the carpenters union? Don't they have any pride? Lay the bricks for raising the Flags!! They are paid for. Has the fund been depleted in campaign donations or something? Why is it that a public official can hold people's money like that with the false hope or his long promise of getting the Raise The Flags project done? Maybe he should leave the important things to Martha and work on the small projects that he promised to get done. If he hopes to keep Paulson he better get something done with the mill property. Quit being King Dick and do something about that stinky water in the fields of saratoga. Those people vote too you know.
How in the world can you build a $12.5M dollar municipal building? Take a lesson from your friends to the west and have a look at what Seneca built. They can conduct every bit of city business there just as good as you will in your big building. Rumor is that they are getting a sweetheart deal with the local builder too. Can anyone say free condo stays in Hawaii and poolside residence visits to Florida? All the while Morris taxpayers are taken for a joyride.
I find it ironic the Mayor spoke at the city coucil meeting about the lack of funds that will come from the state and how it will effect the less fortunate in Morris. Yet, he is behind a municipal building that will cost more than $1000 per citizen of Morris. We do not need a Taj Mahal so our local politicians can put their names on a plaque and get some nice pics in the paper.
Dickie's pals will get the contract. Was there ever any doubt?
sledge, you mean our only recourse is the ballot box, after the fact, when it's too late? How about lawsuit(s) to force the mayor, city attorney, and council to obey the law?
There are high level meetings at city hall with the decorators. Dickie can't wait to move into his walnut panneled new office.
There will be a bar in the basement, Frank will stock it.
You can thank the mayor and city council for the out of control real estate taxes in Morris.
The new city hall will be the last nail in the coffin for Dick's political career.
I am laughing all the way to the bank!
Maybe we need to let Channahon set up a TIF here theirs give 3.3 million into two Minooka school districts they also built a new city hall 4 years ago for 5.5 million why can't that be done here? Let's rethink that boundary line
The debt from last years budget at Morris 54 was $1.8 million. That is a rolling figure, which has been accumulating for almost 20 years. If the city were to return $2M of TIF dollars to the schools like Channahon did last year, then our schools annual debt would be wiped out and any borrowing in the future could be eliminated or very little, say $200k, which is 1000%better than $2M! Come on City of Morris; don't be showed up by Channahon again! Cough up $2M to the schools and build your city hall for $5M. You would look a whole lot better in the eyes of your neighbors.
The city is using TIF as a stealth tax. City offficials are taking money from schools to build plush new offices for themselves. No referendum, and they can brag about low city tax rates. The children and the taxpayers suffer. They have disgraced the city.
your spot on 6:42
Morris has been taken over by thugs. We need to kick out the thugs and take our city back.
The city really dropped the ball when it let the Kohl's store get away.
You people have it all wrong. It's not dickie that runs this town. It's the old money with old family names. Just look around and you'll figure it out. Dickie's just their puppet. Funny thing though. Most of the old money is republican.
The route 47 location proposed for a new city hall is not a "blighted area." And using TIF money to build a municipal building does not generate any property taxes. For both reasons, using TIF money to build this city hall violates the spirit and the letter of the TIF law.
The city's Development Review Committee was making it too costly and burdensome for Kohls and Lowes to locate in Morris compared to other cities. Now they will be locating in Minooka instead. The Development Review Committee imposes unreasonable costs and burdens on development. It is another example of the flawed judgment and misguided policies of mayor Kopczick.
The mayor is furious about Mercadante's letter to the editor in the Morris Daily Herald.
do not mess with the development review committee that scotts and warrens vacation money. nobody else on that committee makes a dime.
is our chief of police and alicia goling to make the front page of the hearld like brown?
There is a recording being played of a secret meeting at a cabin. Those who are privy had better watch yourselves there's a rat in the house.
Last Spring, costs were estimated at $9.3 million. Now it is $12.5??
The city could meet the needs of the police department and city hall for a fraction of the cost. First, give the entire city hall building to the police department. Move the chief, detectives and administrative functions to the area previously occupied by city hall. Only minimal remodelling should be necessary.
Then construct a simple but functional office building for the city hall. New commercial office space should cost no more than $200 per square foot to construct and 3,000 square feet should be adequate, but allow for future expansion. This new building should cost about $600,000.
Even allowing for some upgrades and extras, if the new city hall building is built on land already owned by the city, it should cost no more than about $1 million to $1.5 million to both build the city hall and remodel the police department.
Why does the city want to spend ten times this amount?
They have spent $700,000.00 just on the architect alone.
perplexed: you know the answer to your question -- $$$$$$$ to your friends, that may get back to you in some fashion.
7:47...interesting proposal. Has this alternative proposal ever been presented to the city council?
The comment on to build and pay for the city hall/police department is flawed. First it is obvious that the person commenting has no idea about the requirements of police services. This is not Mayberry anymore. The police department is made to function in an area that is smaller than most homes in Morris. That's over 30 employees in around 2000 sq ft.
Giving the police a building that was a bank does not make sense in today's law enforcement needs. State and Federal governmental bodies require holding cells meet certain requirements, which they do not now. A new police facility needs to be built as a police facility not a re-habbed bank/city hall.
Its not fair to compare Morris to Channahon and say Morris could build a building for 5 million. In todays market, Channahon could not build their building for that cost. The longer we wait the more the price goes up.
A rehabbed building does not meet future needs. You can't build for your needs today, you have to plan for the future. Its funny how everyone wants advanced government services but don't want to pay for them. Years ago people voted off almost a whole county board because of the Grundy County Administration Building. Now its even too small for all the services it provides and the county is scrambling for space. They should have been voted off for poor future planning not building a facility that was too big at the time.
Its a shame that our city government has not had a future plan that they could have recognized the need for such facilities 10 years ago (like the fire department did) and set aside money. But now we have to bite the bullet and move on.
There are two separate but equally troubling issues with the new city hall:
1. Misusing TIF;
2. Excessive and extravagant spending.
8:58, there all only 13 people at a time in the police building. And most of them are out working the town instead of hanging out in the p.d.
I thought the fire department just doubled the tax rate.
Who ever is on the tif board representing the schools needs to be fired.
As long as people remain silent and anonymous, nothing will change...by election day, it will be too late.
Only one alderman will vote against the new city hall. That alderman will be our next mayor.
Only one alderman? Shame it can't be the Cabana Boy, Brown...
Yes, but Alderman Brown is no longer on the city council so who will look out for the taxpayer's best interstests????
I am trying to understand what part of the tif agreement the mayor and aldermen are hanging their hat on. I hope Tom Jacobs, the city's tif attorney, will be there Tuesday night at the council meeting to explain the legality of the city's position. The taxpayers should be outraged over the irresponsible actions of this administration. If citizens do not voice their opposition to this misuse of TIF monies this will pass Tues. night. I urge everyone to contact their alderman and tell them to vote against this misuse of public funds.
Not aware of anyone being on a TIF Board from any school. Didn't even know there is a TIF Board.
8 28 11:59, Are you sure you are not referring to the log cabin republican meeting?
Public Trust! How many of you trusted Kopczick to put your name on a brick you purchased for the memorial? How many of you thought you could trust him to work with the schools, not take from them to build his glory dome. How many union people were excited to see him elected Mayor because he was supposedly pro-union? Ask the employees of public works or the police department what they think of Mr. pro union now!! Time for a change the head got too big again.
You people apparently don't spend much, if any time in City Hall OR the current police department.
It's a health hazard. The very fact that there are 13 people in there at any given time is abominal given its current state.
Ditto for city hall.
Someone call the city of
Warrenville and ask them what they've purchased with TIF funds.
Fire trucks, fire depts, park properties, administrative buildings, public works equipment.
And who's bitching over there? Nobody. Why not? Because they're getting what they need.
Ignorance really must be bliss....
hey NAAMAH-- ignorance is watching your tax bill rocket up every year, and not asking questions. Ignorance is assuming our public leaders, city attorney, their cronies are doing the right thing, on the up and up, with our tax dollars. Ignorance is the public's unawareness of the fire truck antics, etc., etc. That's what ignorance is...
People like you, NAAMAH, like ignorance, don't you?
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