CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills wants to gain support from other taxing bodies for a special tax district along 55th Street.
But the other entities are likely to delay such a vote.
On Wednesday morning, the taxing bodies on Clarendon Hills’ Joint Review Board plan to meet.
But a majority of the members have indicated they want to delay consideration until Aug. 13, Clarendon Hills Village Manager Zach Creer told Patch on Monday.
Hinsdale High School District 86’s board has already come out against Clarendon Hills’ plan for a tax increment financing district, or TIF.
If a majority of taxing bodies vote against the proposal, that would require a three-fifths super-majority of the Village Board to make the district a reality.
After a TIF district is established, the money generated from the growth in the property tax base would go to the district itself. Under state law, that money can be invested in projects in the district that spur development, benefitting the local economy in the long run.
Under state law, schools and other taxing bodies would not receive any of the growth in tax money over 23 years. The argument is that a TIF would stimulate enough development that other bodies would benefit in the long run.
Linda Burke, a Hinsdale resident who has long attended District 86 board meetings, is trying to build opposition to the tax increment district.
For her email list, Burke on Tuesday morning created a form letter for residents to send to leaders in Clarendon Hills and other towns in District 86.
Opponents of the proposed district note the removal of the tax base growth from the tax rolls would affect taxpayers in other areas.
“The proposed TIF district would have no benefits to justify the loss of funding that our public schools would otherwise receive,” the form letter says. “The area is prosperous, not blighted. There is no evidence that a special government program is necessary to encourage private investment in the area, which is already happening. Infrastructure issues that do exist, such as stormwater management, can be addressed by normal local government means.”
In her email to residents, Burke said she was open to a tax-sharing deal with Clarendon Hills. That has happened in other towns, including Elmhurst.
“However, the present TIF proposal is such a ridiculous idea that I favor starting our opposition to the TIF as absolute, and only resorting to a compromise if the TIF appears to be a done deal,” Burke said.
Last week, Creer said the village, too, would be open to some type of sharing arrangement. He also said other local tax increment districts have brought development and improved the local economy.
He said a TIF was needed along 55th Street because of poor infrastructure. Among the issues are potable water capacity and pressure, which impact firefighting as well as the ability to add new development, as well as traffic safety and, to a lesser extent, stormwater, Creer said.
“Also, the Village staff believe that not being proactive to be ready to help preserve major taxpayers such as the Jewel-Osco would be a mistake with the current grocery consolidation,” Creer said.
The members of the Joint Review Board are:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Click Here: antrim gaa jerseys