CLARENDON HILLS, IL – A Downers Grove Township official who voted against creating a tax district in Clarendon Hills had no specific criticism of the proposal, but said Thursday he wanted more information before deciding.
Clarendon Hills is considering a tax increment financing district, or TIF, for the stated purpose of spurring development in the area along 55th Street.
Last month, local government bodies voted 4-3 against the district. Because of that, the Village Board needs a three-fifths supermajority vote to make the district a reality.
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In response to Patch’s inquiry, Downers Grove Township Supervisor Paul Coultrap said his no vote was based solely on his experience with tax districts from 25 years ago when he was on committees for Downers Grove Grade School District 58. He said he learned of the dire consequences of TIFs on schools.
Under state law, such a district for 23 years can divert any property taxes derived from growth in its tax base from schools and other public bodies. The money can only be spent to benefit the tax district.
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Coultrap said District 58 hammered out solutions that worked for both parties. Often, towns offer deals to share some of the growth in taxes, as Clarendon Hills has done.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the Village of Clarendon Hills worked as hard as they could to work on a fair and equitable solution for the three school districts,” Coultrap said. “Unfortunately, they have been unable to find such a solution.”
During the meeting of government bodies, Coultrap said he asked for the vote to be delayed until all sides could strike a compromise.
“Without the agreement, I could not in good conscience vote to approve the TIF,” he said.
Coultrap said he hoped the village would take more time to address just how and what it aimed to accomplish with the tax district. He also said he wanted to know the impact on local taxes.
Area school officials opposed the tax district, saying the 55th Street area is already prosperous and needs no special help. They also say taxpayers outside the tax district would pick up the slack on taxes.
For its part, DuPage County abstained from the vote. Over the last couple of decades, the county voted for every TIF that came before it. The county’s representative, Paul Hoss, said development is occurring in the proposed tax district. He said the county abstained to give the village a chance to go back to the drawing board.
On Monday, the Clarendon Hills Village Board discussed the tax district. Trustees did not give a definitive opinion on it and appeared to be in no rush to make a decision.
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