Mike Farrell has written an opinion piece suggesting that it is time to end the Morris TIF.
The Morris TIF district will expire in 2009, unless the school boards agree to an extension.
City officials are actively lobbying school superintendents for an extension.
Mr. Farrell's analysis recognizes the fact that TIF diverts money from our schools. Each year, according to Farrell, over $3,000,000 is diverted from other taxing districts into city coffers. The other taxing districts don't go without; the shortfall is simply made up in the form of higher taxes for every property owner in the district.
By refusing to extend TIF, school boards can improve the financial condition of their districts and bring about much needed tax relief.
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31 comments:
The city has $9,000,000 stockpiled from TIF. They should return this money to the schools, but only on the condition that it is used to reduce or eliminate debt.
There is NO WAY the school boards should agree to this extension, they have been hurt too much already.
The schools have lost millions of dollars because of TIF. To even think the superintendents would go along with extending TIF another twelve years is not giving our school board members enough credit.
Way to go Mike.
A story is circulating that the school superintendants have already cut a deal with Dickie to extend TIF. Have taxpayers been betrayed again?
I like the idea of returning the $9,000,000 to the schools to pay their debt. Will this be enough to eliminate borrowing by the school districts? This would eliminate the expense of paying interest on tax anticipation borrowing.
School boards owe their loyalty to the children and the taxpayers, not to the shady politicians running our city. If the school boards fail to end TIF in 2009, they must be held accountable.
We might as well get ready to elect new board members right now then. We're fools to believe that sidebars haven't been going on already to run this sham through!
Taxpayers will be furious with the school boards if they do not fight the TIF extension.
The school boards members and superintendents have had enough of the 1986 City of Morris TIF agreement.
When the TIF ends in 09 how will mayor pay for the city attorney's softball trip?
It is a good thing Gardner is starting up a TIF agreement. Buckets of diverted money going to make it into the village now. You are the man Scooter.
If school board allow extension of the TIF, they are no better than the crooks running our city.
The MDH reported that Frank Varner has closed the restaurant at the Morris Aiport. The announcement was made at the city council meeting on December 17.
Is Belt going to send letter demanding rent for the rest of the lease period like he did to Marta?
These guys in city hall are bullies when it comes to pushing someone out to make room for a crony, but they won't flex any muscle when the crony is on his way out.
Is Frank still going to get free use of the airport parking lot to park limos for his limo business?
SILLY MAYOR, TIF ARE FOR KIDS.
the rabbit sucks carrot
The farmers north of town are not easily fooled with the local shenanigans called Dicky politics.
The Morris school districts are living a Groundhogs Day tax nightmare. Shame on Dickie for even trying to continue to divert money from the children to keeps his crony machine running.
I have talked to two school board members about TIF. Both are aware of the problems with the TIF and have told me that they will oppose any extension.
What will all the city attorneys do when the majority of $3,000,000.00 gets directed back to the kids? TIF to them is like crack to a crackwhore. They will not be able to send the extravagant bills to city hall because the town will not have the play money. I think the rats will jump ship.
According to the TIF law, unused TIF money must be returned to the taxing bodies. $9,000,000 is sitting in a bank account, unused, right now.
I know a school board president who is very well versed on TIF and is against the extension. The school boards are not going to agree to any extension.
Looks like Seneca schools are getting some of their money back.
In my opinion a school is not much different than running your average business. Except the schools product, children are much more important than widgets.
Now can you imagine running a business in 2007 and selling a large portion of your product at 1986 prices? You would not be around long to say the least.
That is what our school boards and superintendents are forced to due every day because of the Morris TIF.
Did Frank pay any rent at all for the airport restaurant? Some say that he never paid a cent the whole time he was there. Is that true? Is Frank on the Free-Ride-for-Cronies Program? Where can I get my free handout from the city?
Cronyism wasn't invented by Dick and Scooter, but they certainly have mastered the art.
Why aren't these problems discussed openly at the city council meetings? When are the aldermen going to figure out they are here to represent the citizens and taxpayers, and not to protect Dick and his cronies?
Take back our city from the greedy crooks!
Sledge, have you heard anything about the Houston sheet metal company coming to Morris?
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