The Sweet Home Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is proposing an ordinance that would require the City of Chicago to dedicate 20% of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds toward affordable housing each year. Hmmm. Should DeKalb have such an ordinance? How about for job training? Why or why not? Bonus: YouTube: “Let’s Talk About TIF”…
Category: Payment Due?
More Water Games
Minutes of the January 12 special joint meeting of City Council and Financial Advisory Committee yielded this: Mr. Espiritu discussed the fund balances along with suggestions to make them sustainable. He recommended that the General Fund build up a 25% fund balance with the City setting aside 5% per year over a 5-year period. Also,…
Park District & TIF
Here are facts obtained recently from the DeKalb Park District about its agreements with the City of DeKalb: Once upon a time, the Park District would submit requests to the City for reimbursements of Tax Increment Financing (TIF)-eligible expenses incurred on a project-by-project basis. The projects had to occur within TIF districts and there was…
One Hundred Fifty-Four
DeKalb City Council members will soon be looking at city-owned real estate, 154 parcels in all, possibly with an eye to selling off some of these assets. But you, Dear CB Reader, do not have to wait for city staff’s compilation to get a sneak peek at the totality. After the jump, I have listed…
Park District Finances & Financing
Meeting minutes for the September 10, 2009 Park Board “study session” included a presentation of the Independent Auditor’s Report of the FY 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). [Brian LeFevre of Sikich, LLP] reported that both the District’s Golf Course and Hopkins enterprise funds were in a negative working capital position requiring them to borrow…
All Wet
Rockford Park District & reality: Spending cuts of $1.4 million are planned for the 2010 budget year, including administrative wage freezes and changes to health insurance that would total $955,000 in savings. DeKalb Park District & reality:
Financially Distressed Cities
Well now. (65 ILCS 5/8‑12‑2) (from Ch. 24, par. 8‑12‑2) Sec. 8‑12‑2. (a) Pursuant to the authority of the General Assembly to provide for the public health, safety and welfare, the General Assembly hereby finds and declares that it is the public policy and a public purpose of the State to offer assistance to a…
City Property Tax Hearing December 14
Picking up the city’s slack in posting legal notices online: NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR THE CITY OF DEKALB, ILLINOIS I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the City of DeKalb, Illinois for 2009 will be held on Monday, December 14, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in the…
Errors Necessitate Lift Station at New High School
[Update 12/8/2009: Mr. Gustafson, construction liaison, reports via e-mail that the errors leading to the need for a lift station will cost around $47,000 to correct and that the architects, ATS&R, “will be responsible for these costs.” The correspondence has presented an opportunity to ask about other error reports floating out there, so stay tuned.]…
You May Raise My Taxes When…
Is it wrong to prefer a Council meeting without Wogen and Simpson? I’ve decided there’s no immediate need to get rid of Wogen unless he starts showing up again, or if the 3rd Ward wants the mayor to appoint somebody to the spot. And Simpson can take as much time off as he likes unless…