Understanding the Proposed TIF District for Richmond, Illinois

RichmondTIF.com was constructed and maintained between January 2006 and Febuary 2007 by those concerned that Village of Richmond IL was considering the use of Tax Increment Financing. The original purpose of this site was to be an informatiuonal resource to those in the Richmond IL area, to help make up their own minds about TIF for Richmond.

In Febuary of 2007 Village of Richmond IL's Village Board voted to not go forward with a proposed TIF District. Since then RichmondTIF.com has gone largely unmaintained.The owners of RichmondTIF.com apologize for any broken and "fille not found" links you may encounter while visiting.

UPDATE: March 2008 a year later.....................

That was then, This is now.

As the Village of Richmond IL first began go public with the plans for a TIF district, in the winter of 2006 and all throughout that process, we observed and listened. Some of the things we saw then, make more sense to us now.

It appears to us, that there were those who those who's future plans were based of the fact they somehow knew ahead of time that Richmond IL was definitely going to have a TIF District, well before the possibility of a TIF district for Richmond IL was discussed publically.

An individual moved to Richmond and purchased 3 TIF related properties, she also made offers to several other property owners, This person was a vocal public proponent for the Richmond TIF District, however did state that she would still be going ahead with their plans for several businesses even if there was no TIF. She has now placed 2 of those downtown vacant properties on the market.

A developer, who was a major land holder in the proposed TIF, advertised on their web site in early 2006 that they would be adding facilities to Richmond. At a convention of a professional organization he is a member of,he stated his plans for Richmond well before there was public talk of TIF in Richmond IL. This public declaration was confirmed by 2 separate attendees of that convention. The developer has not gone forward with those plans.

At a well attended public TIF Hearing 1/18/2007, a representative from a group that wanted to bring a winery to Richmond stated that it was not dependent on Richmond having a TIF. They would still be still be bringing a winery to Richmond, just to a different location. A year later, the are no apparent plans to go forward with that.

The rest of this site has gone untouched since march of 2007.........

The Village of Richmond IL (village board) voted earlier this year to not proceed with their TIF. This was due to public opinion expressed to the village board of Richmond IL through our schools, businesses, property owners and other government boards like the Library and our Townships.

It was the action of our township representatives, to vote that the TIF question be placed on the ballot for the next election, as a non binding question, that is believed to have been the final "attention getter" for the village board of Richmond IL. Because the village board voted to not proceed with the TIF, the ballot question became a mute point. However, it still appeared on the ballot, allowing area voters to express their opinion on TIF for Richmond IL.

We thank the Village Board of Richmond IL for listening to its area residents.

We also thank the Townships of Richmond and Burton and our schools for helping to bring their thoughts on TIF for Richmond IL, to the attention of our village board.

Results of the April 17th, 2007 TIF Referendum:

Richmond Township

Yes   106   15.7%

No     568   84.2%

Burton Township

Yes    43        9%

No     434      91%

3/2/07:    Candidates consider best system for development

2/16/07   Richmond TIF Tanks

2/16/07:  Richmond TIF plan dropped

2/14/07:  Olson: Richmond officials should have responded

Richmond and Burton Township voters will be able to express their opinion about

The Village of Richmond IL's TIF at the next election, April 17th!

2/05/07: Trustees likely to vote on TIF

2/06/07: Trustees to consider putting issue on ballot

1/29/07: TIFs help, but what are they?

Recommended reading for those new to Tax Increment Financing ( TIF ).

This article answers many TIF questions and is honest, open minded reporting on the subject of TIF.

Is TIF right for your City or Town?

TIF Bashing Facts

TIF, Yes or No

Use RichmondTIF.com as a resource to form your own opinion on TIF.

To learn more about TIF, without having to read about the Village of Richmond Illinois' (proposed) TIF. Visit our Documents and Studies Page

1/29/07: Investment in future?

1/19/07: People unite against tax plan

1/17/07: Richmond trustees vote to give taxing bodies more if district OK' d

1/16/07: Outcry could alter TIF plan

1/05/07: Funding meeting delayed

Richmond IL village officials contact info at our What You Can Do page

Please feel free to contact us and offer your opinion on this site or the Richmond IL TIF. We would also like to thank the many who have offered links to information that they have found. If you find an article or document while searching the internet for TIF and think it should be included in this site, please let us know. As more information becomes available about the Richmond IL TIF we will continue to post it. Please check back from time to time for updates and new meeting dates.

Recent Richmond IL TIF articles, etc.:

1/11/07: Residents uncertain of best way to fill vacant downtown storefronts

1/08/07: Library ponders tax raise

1/03/07: Village opposes mailing

1/03/07, columnist Eric Olson: TIF districts need planning to work well

1/01/07 letter to the editor: Expensive paper peek

BREAKING NEWS: of the financial impact of the proposed Richmond TIF on District 2 residents!

12/26/06: District 2 board member: Richmond TIF plan 'bad deal'

District 2, December 2006 Community Newsletter, board position on TIF

Northwest Herald Editorial: 1/12/07: A fair use for condemnation

More Richmond IL TIF press history at our Local Press page

School Districts of Lindenhurst IL speak out about their TIF

Grayslake High School District 127 || Millburn School District 24 || Woodland School District 50

A TIF mess from across the Big Muddy, video news clips: Stop the Sunset Hill land Grab

And we don't have to worry about getting the money, the TIF consultants for the Village of Richmond IL are also the nations third largest municipal bond seller!

Ehlers and Associates