Skeptical Morris has finally weighed in on TIF. I do not share Skeptical's defeatist attitude about the use of TIF for the new city hall. The city council is divided on the issue of the new city hall, and it doesn't appear that the mayor has the votes to approve the project in its present form. Two points merit further consideration.
Point Number One:
It is true that the city amended the Redevelopment Plan in 1999 to designate funds for the construction of a new city hall - just days before an amendment to the TIF law that would prohibit such a use. However, the amended plan does not give the city carte blanche to build the city hall. The 1999 amended Redevelopment Plan only earmarked $2.5 million dollars for the project - a far cry from the $14 million or more that is now being estimated, and the nearly $2 million already spent.
This substantial change to the Redevelopment Plan requires consideration by the Joint Review Board, which consists of the members of the affected taxing bodies. There will have to be specific findings that bring the project within one of the limited exceptions to the 1999 ban on the use of TIF money to fund municipal buildings.
If the Joint Review Board dissaproves the change in the redevelopment plan, the city can proceed with the project only on a three-fifths vote of the City Council.
Any TIF funds not expended before the expiration of the TIF term must be returned to the affected taxing bodies. Districts 54 and 101 could recoup millions of dollars diverted from schools to the TIF slush fund.
Point Number Two:
The Morris TIF is set to end in 2009. The city has already approached the school districts asking for a twelve year extension.
When Morris adopted the TIF in 1986, it was sold to the city council, the schools and the public as a means to spur development in blighted areas and ultimately generate additional property tax revenue for the taxing bodies.
The city has demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to use TIF money for its intended purpose.
The school districts have the power to end the Morris TIF in 2009. Let's hope that the school boards do not miss this opportunity to address the financial needs of educating our children, while at the same time bringing much needed tax relief the residents of their districts.
City acknowledges TIF hurdles in this MDH article
Ben Joravsky of the Chicago Reader has authored numerous articles on creative TIF abuses in Chicago. Check out the TIF Archives.
Full text of the TIF law
Seneca school districts win TIF abuse lawsuit
Oak Park school districts demand return of TIF money
38 comments:
Let me get this straight, in 1993 Brian was against the TIF agreement. In 2007 Brian is for the TIF agreement. I wonder what happened to the spirited young whippersnapper.
Sledge, you are the man!!! WOW!!!!
Our schools have now gone broke, it's time to refocus the tax dollars to a much needed boost in education and fire district dollars. This city has missed the opportunity to use TIF for projects of blight such as the paper mill, instead to give hand outs to political cronies and high school buddies. I am disgusted not only with the present administration but also in the lack of action from previous boards. People are going to need to be held accountable for their actions on all levels - city, county or other - and maybe then they will wake up and realize what they have done. Many good people are willing to help this community develop but our voices often go unheard.
The city should do the right thing and return the money to the schools.
This point needs to be hammered home to the voter/taxpayer -- This money is the schools' money, GIVE IT BACK TO THEM!!!!! This concept will resonate with the local taxpayer weary of the alarming property tax increases here.
It seems that an entire industry has developed involved in this TIF business. Lawyers, consultants, more lawyers, assistants, public relations firms, engineering/architect firms, more lawyers, friends of politicians, all benefit at our expense. All of them would like nothing more than to stay under the radar as the taxpayer's money changes hands. We need to educate the public. We need to publicize the implications of these dealings, particularly when tax bills are mailed out.
Seems like the city officials are elected to do what is best for the city, and school boards are elected to do what is best for the schools. This is an issue throughout the state. There are many communities dealing with this problem.
If TIF ends in 2009, tax bills will go down.
End the TIF in 2009.
The Morris TIF misuse will only hurt other communities trying to establish or do the right thing.
I am for the children and against TIF.
Keep up the good work, Sledgehammer. We need tax relief more than an extravagant city hall.
I'll admit that the White Oak elementary school is overkill, but if we (taxpayers) have a chance to get some much needed property tax relief, then no way in hell should city hall be built with school money. Why can't they budget the money and then build it? Didn't the Morris Fire Protection District build Station 2 on money they budgeted (saved) for the building with? Why can't the City of Morris do the same? Our mayor is a joke.
Why give more money to Dist 54? All they've don ein the past is hire more administration while keeping teacher salaries flat?
Secondly, a tip of the hat to the NEW board. You really played your hand well with salary negotitaions by agreeing to them in ONE DAY. Well done! Bravo!!
and the schools deserve more money because....they have demonstrated a remarkable amount of fiscal ability.
Does anyone know what the current balance is of the TIF account? What is the latest annual deposit to the account from tax receipts?
A one time infusion of cash to District 54 might eliminate the need to issue working cash bonds.
I take issue with the notion of our schools being over-kill. Look at the demand for space that today's society requires. At the beginning of the last century, the average home was 700 square feet. In 1950 the average home was 1,000 square feet, and the average new house has expanded in size from about 1500 square feet in the mid-70s. The median size for a new single family home in 2003 was about 2300 square feet (National Association of Home Builders). While at the same time the average size of a family has declined 50%. As a society we require more space for less people. This is reflected not only by the size of our schools; but also in the size of our offices, Movie theaters, grocery stores and anything else. My mom never drove an SUV. But today it is a standard. White Oak is large, but so is the student population at over 900 students daily. This is a growing community. It was wise to construct the school at its present size. Saratoga has taken a different approach and has multiple construction phases, which will end-up costing more in the long run. Actually it already has. The current phase alone is costing what White Oak cost in 2000.
I used to live in Hannibal, Missouri - until I met Jeff Paulson.
The repeated mis-steps at city hall have left Dick Kopczick impotent as a leader.
Is there TIF meeting November 1, 2007? Where does the joint review board meet?
The threat of a high-profile lawsuit may help keep municipalities in compliance with the TIF laws.
In general, the State's power over individual TIFs is limited to passing legislation that affects all districts. However, the recent TIF reform law requires municipalities to submit data on their TIFs to the Comptroller's office. This could allow the State to become a "whistleblower" on TIF abuses.
Why hasn't the city given public notice of the TIF meeting scheduled for November 1? More clandestine activity at city hall?
6:18, haven't you heard? The highly paid city attorney has determined that having open meetings would violate the Open Meetings Act. Accordingly, all open meetings will now be closed secret meetings. No one will be allowed to speak anyway. Speaking at meetings would also violate the act. Understand now?
After reading last night's Morris Daily Fluff, I was troubled at the thought where a driver (obviously intoxicated) hit a concrete wall and left the scene. This easily could have been any other street corner where pedestrians stood in downtown Morris. But only minor charges were filed against the individual, why?, because we have no police chief? This drunken erract behavior should not be tolerated. Why do we stand for it as residents?
It looks like kopczick and paulson have given up on the plot to appoint him police chief. Afraid of what a background check might turn up?
Why not move Shabbona students/faculty to White Oak (there's enough vacancy) and use Shabbona as City Hall? It's right across from the County Administration building.
Thanks to the blogs, we will not see Paulson as police chief or coroner.
Is it true that there is a meeting about extending TIF set for November 1? Why hasn't this been made public?
Thanks to the blogs Paulson changed his mind? Yeah right. The blogs are entertaining, I will give you that, but you are sorely mistaken if you think that local officials are making decisions based on what a few locals on blogs are saying.
Enjoy the banter, but be careful when you read some of these postings, as some are completely untrue.
No Police Chief means the druggies will take over
I have to disagree with 7:47. Just a few positive developments resulting from the blogs: 1) Morris recovers $50,000 from Senreq; 2) Brian Feeney job scheme abandoned; 3) Scott Belt's fees down by about $70,000 this year; 4) Jeff Paulson job scheme abandoned; 5) City council takes critical look at city hall plans; 6) There is actually constructive debate in the city council, rather than rubber-stamp approvals.
The blogs are the best thing that ever happened to this town.
All that from the blogs...lol...right. :)
All of the aldermen and county leaders log on before their meetings too.
No decision is made in this county without consulting the blogs.
Give me a break.
As I understand, Morris has an ordinance prohibiting elected officials from taking appointed positions for a period of at least one year after leaving office, so Paulson could not be made Chief.
And to the schmuck referring to Hannibal, do you not know the whole story, or do you just enjoy being an ass?
The Morris village code can be found at
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/morris/
There is nothing in there prohbiting elected officials from taking appointed positions.
(Coal City had such an ordinance, but simply repealed it before naming councilman Leo Middleton the city administrator.)
Read this:
www.hannibal.net/stories/073199/Lawsuitfiled.html
I heard the city Tif attorney told Brian and Dick two years ago that if they tried to ask for more money then was put in the 1999 redevelopment plan, they were skating on thin ice.
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