By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Politics sometimes makes for strange bedfellows, and that was indeed the case as local taxing bodies decided it was OK to keep certain properties off their tax rolls another 12 years to help spur development in Uptown Normal.

Mayoral hopeful Marc Tiritilli, a fiscal conservative, spoke out against the idea as did progressives like Heartland Community College Trustee Mary Campbell and Normal Township Supervisor Sarah Grammer.

Mayor Chris Koos praised supporters and opponents.

“No idea gets 100 percent support. That’s just the political world we llive in,” said Koos.

“There was good robust discussion about this. I think people that were not supportive of this had best of intentions for the community. There’s no question of that,” the mayor said.

Koos said some people’s views on the TIF surprised him.

“I found interesting some people I thought would be supportive that were not supportive. It kind of shocked me and surprised me,” Koos said.

All six affected taxing bodies approved extending the life of the tax increment financing district on undeveloped Uptown parcels.

The Illinois legislature has yet to approve the TIF extension.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]