Normal’s Reece: Taxing body approval for Uptown TIF preferred, not required

Posted on May 16, 2018

*Normal City Manager Pam Reece is lobbying local taxing bodies to support a 12 year extension of the tax increment financing district for Uptown redevelopment. (Photo courtesy Town of Normal)*

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Normal’s city manager said the town government will continue pursuing an extension of a tax increment financing district for Uptown Normal even if an affected taxing body or two are opposed to the idea.

Four local taxing bodies have agreed so far to the 12 year extension, but the Normal Township Board and the Unit 5 School Board are scheduled to meet Thursday to vote on the proposal.

Taxing body approval for a TIF extension is preferred, but not required.

“The state statute does not require taxing bodies to sign off on this, but it is a practice that the state legislators are more comfortable having taxing bodies express support,” said Normal City Manager Pam Reece.

Her comments came after Normal Township Supervisor Sarah Grammer told WJBC’s Sam Wood on Tuesday that a dozen years added to the 23 year TIF is too long for properties to remain off the tax rolls even though some areas of Uptown have yet to be developed.

Reece said the town will take their case to state lawmakers even if one or both of the remaining taxing bodies vote against the measure.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…