SITE OWNERS OPINIONS

The idea of a TIF district in Richmond IL is the result of the attitude and thinking errors on the part of the current Richmond IL Village Board. They have fought tooth and nail to discourage residential development. We are talking about a Village here that refuses to honor annexation agreements to the point of getting sued by developers. Now they are advocating using a "tool" of economic development to capture tax dollars for developer incentives. They were elected by claiming that the previous Village board had "given away too much" to a developer. Now they are advocating doing just that.

It just doesn't make any sense. If residential development was allowed to come, business would follow on its own, without any local government handouts. They wouldn't have to use your potential tax dollars.Read about the developer that Richmond IL slapped in the face: For Pabst Farms, Bell toils Which would you rather have for your community a new school and a YMCA or a winery? Northwest Herald, Sunday, April 9, 2006. Richmond, developer might end litigation

This site is a collection of TIF related information we have found on the internet. Please take the time to explore it, access the many links to TIF information and form your own opinion. If managed properly a TIF could be a wonderful thing. If TIF is abused it could be used to acquire property cheaply by eminent domain and pass the savings on to developers, if it is mismanaged it will result in higher area property taxes. TIF takes away from public participation, and government accountability by creating separate TIF board that will operate on the advise of highly paid consultants that will also advise that board on how to sell you on the idea and be ready with answers to all common complaints.

For instance, our township has just started a Senior Ride Program. For $1.00 a senior or a disabled person can get a much needed ride to see a doctor, get groceries or visit a beauty salon. There will be residential development along with the proposed TIF. Unless the township speaks up for itself it could end up giving those rides to residents who live where their property taxes contribute nothing to that program.

That is just one example of an increase in infrastructure burden with no accompanying increase in property tax return. Unless of course you count that the non-TIF tax payers will make up for it, then its not a problem. Please feel free to contact us and offer your opinion on this site or the TIF. We would also like to thank the many who have offered links to information that they have found as well. If you find an article or document while searching the internet for TIF and you think it should be included in this site please let us know. As more information becomes available about the Richmond TIF we will post that, so check back from time to time for updates.

To the Editor:

The Cary tax increment financing district and the redevelopment plan was approved by a kangaroo court on August 8. It will be rammed through the village board by Mayor Steve Lamal and Village Administrator Cameron Davis on Sept. 5. Recently in a news story stated that Davis said the village was aware of the residents' concerns, but that there have been no formal proposals that would raze the properties. That statement contradicts facts Davis is well aware of. I have seen the blueprints submitted. All the buildings are to be razed. I wonder what else Davis and Lamal have misled us about? I wonder what else they are up to in our town? Cathy "Kelli" Joseph, Cary

The above letter to the editor, published August 14, 2006 in the Northwest Herald is indicitative how TIFs are "pulled off" across the country. In the case of Richmond IL, those who question the use of TIF are officially referred by the village administration as "doomsayers."  If a Richmond IL resident cites an example of a TIF District that didn't go so well they are told: "Richmond IL is better than that" or "it won't happen like that here". But it happens the same way everywhere, village officials, developers and consultants sell the public on all the fine points of TIF, leaving the stark reality of TIF be realized by the taxpayers after TIF is legally in place and nothing can be done about it.