ReNew DeKalb wants to give more than $1 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money to Preservation of the Egyptian Theatre. Who doesn’t love the Egyptian? I love P.E.T.’s director and its board because they follow the rules, and because they try to provide events for every budget. But we’ve given the Egyptian $592,500 since…
Tag: TIF
FY2012 Budget Comments, Smart-Alecky Edition
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 is now available. I’ve just begun reading it. Here are a few reactions so far. [From the 2025 Vision Statement] Its downtown is the heart of the community… Translation: We hate that the Super Wal-Mart is the closest thing DeKalb has to a town square.
TIF Protest in Chicago
Chicago Sun-Times: “Anti-TIF marchers demand $4M from N. Side auto dealer”: About 150 teachers, parents and activists marched into the Grossinger City Autoplex and demanded a check for $4 million Saturday. That would be the “TIF” money — protestors called it “The Mayor’s Slush Fund” — diverted from the public schools and given to developers…
Extended Comment on the Advisability of a South 4th Street TIF
I left a comment at DeKalb County Online in response to 5th Ward candidate Rob Fischer’s possible support for a new TIF. Says Mr. Fischer: TIF’s are one of the most powerful tools municipalities have at their disposal to renovate neighborhoods. My wife and I were just talking the other day about how the city…
Sidewalk to Nowhere is Off-Limits, People!
Says ReNew DeKalb: Crosswalks on Lincoln [sic] The thermoplastic crosswalks on Lincoln Highway are not performing per the warranty. Unfortunately this is rather unsightly, but they will be replaced by the contractor in the spring at no additional cost to the City of DeKalb. Sidewalk De-icing Salt Business and building owners are strongly encouraged to…
Downtown Deterioration
The stamped asphalt crosswalks are not holding up. Photos were taken yesterday by Dan Fazekas at 2nd & Lincoln and at 3rd & Lincoln. Click on any to access an album of seven.
Library Timeline & Pertinent Expenditures
The DeKalb Library (DKPL) board passed a resolution at the beginning of 2007 to expand and improve Library facilities. This indeed has happened; since its passage, the Library started a fund for a new boiler, accepted TIF money for window and other improvements, and remodeled the Youth Services department and the lounge. Almost immediately, however,…
LUST at First & Locust
On July 22, 2010, the City of DeKalb received a No Further Remediation (NFR) Letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the property it owns at First and Locust streets (AKA “skating rink site”). [A]n NFR Letter signifies that compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements has been achieved, all corrective action (if any) has…
Firefighters-Saving-Cats Open Thread
This is primarily a “No, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth” message. Anyway, feel free to use this space for commenting on the cat story, the TIF articles from the Daily Chronicle, city budget, etc.
City Budget Open Thread…Mayday! Mayday!
The proposed City of DeKalb FY 2011 budget has total expenditures going up by about $5 million over last year, mostly due to increased spending on the downtown TIF, health insurance and the airport. The budget as drafted will be balanced IF: there are cuts of 25-30 staff (or, alternatively, everyone takes a 12% pay…