As implied yesterday, I’ve got my hands on the City of DeKalb’s Debt Management Policy. The City Clerk is looking into getting this document posted at the city’s website, but meantime you can get a copy of it from him or from me. It’s a 12-page PDF. In continuing our look at DeKalb’s limitations on…
Category: City Watch
City of DeKalb’s Self-Imposed Bonded Debt Limit
In “A Look at City of DeKalb Debt,” we calculated whether the debt carried by the City of DeKalb currently exceeds the legal debt limit imposed upon non-Home Rule communities. It does not. Also, in 2010 DeKalb passed a debt management policy that actually sets a stricter limit on gross bonded debt than the state…
City Claims Ellwood Plan a Product of Public Meetings. It’s Not
I kinda figured they would do this (my emphasis). II. Background: In May, 2010, community members, financial institutions and city officials participated in an informational meeting to discuss the progress of the 2003 North 5th Ward Neighborhood Plan. The meeting was facilitated by the Center for Governmental Studies on behalf of the City. The meeting…
Total Property Tax Rates in DeKalb County, City
Here are some property tax numbers expressed as dollars per $100 of assessed valuation. The DeKalb County averages come from this state site, the city’s from my own tax bills. [table id=40 /] Other 2009 Property Tax Rate Averages Statewide — 6.43 Cook County — 5.89 Collar Counties — 6.47 Rest of State — 7.71…
On the Trail of the Legendary Comp Time Monster
Behold my latest puzzle: [table id=41 /]
Traffic Studies
A new police station on Route 38 is in the works, and a proposed expansion of the DeKalb Public Library would involve closing a portion of North Third Street. Clearly, each of these projects/proposals if built would impact traffic patterns at their respective locations. Mac McIntyre brought up the need for a traffic study at…
Clarity
Hey, City of DeKalb, just so we’re clear: No fire station at the airport until the south side is taken care of.
Well. Finally.
The DeKalb City Council is getting close to approving a DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport (DTMA) Marketing Plan. (See here, starting on p. 5.) The proposal is a concise and informative 15 pages. I found the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) more direct and insightful than I think we would have gotten in-house, so maybe…
City of DeKalb Maximum Comp Time Accumulations, Payouts & More
[table id=37 /] Yes, that’s correct: on Planet CityofDeKalb, some employees get to accumulate comp time for years and years. And, yes: for management employees, the maximum payout is 60 DAYS.
City is Advertising a Lawn Care Company on Public Property
Here is the southwest corner of Route 38 and Seventh Street, a high-traffic area where the city bought up Ralph’s place and demolished it with TIF money in the name of economic development. I’ll bet we’ve spent more than $150,000 on this property and all we’ve got to show for it is an overgrown, overpriced…