At the December 20, 2018 meeting of the DeKalb Park District Board of Commissioners, the board voted 5-0 to approve a resolution in support of improvements to the Joint Review Boards for the City of DeKalb TIF Districts. The resolution states the District’s support of the proposed City Code Chapter 37 (Tax Increment Financing Regulations) that were discussed at the City Council meeting on December 10, 2018 but were tabled for future consideration. The resolution also expresses the District’s support for an audit of records relating to TIF grants, revenues, and expenditures over the past 23 years. [TIF 1 began in December, 1986 and was extended for 12 additional years in 2009.]
According to Phil Young, Board President, the DeKalb Park District is not pursuing any “money grabbing” tactics as has been alleged by some, but rather, is simply supporting putting into place practices and procedures that will improve transparency in the TIF District’s in the future. This will be beneficial to all taxpayers of the City of DeKalb and of the DeKalb Park District.
A full copy of the resolution is attached below.
Resolution No 18-07.Signed
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41 Comments
The guy that suggested money grabbing, grabbed some of his own from someone that benefited from his vote, just saying.
So is asking for the return of money that belongs to you really a money grab?
Patti Thompson Perkins I think maybe he’s referring to David Jacobson
Matt Keys you’re narrative would be captivating, but for the fact that Tsapa (multiple partners who own buildings in DeKalb, one of which does have current TIF projects) didn’t even sign a contract on the building until a couple months AFTER the vote on Cornerstone…
As for Plaza, if you do the research, you’ll quickly notice that I wasn’t present for the approval vote (as I had recused, being that I DID, by then, have an existing business relationship, at that point, and felt it would indeed be a conflict to vote) and wasn’t present for the amended use vote just taken at the beginning of the month… In simple terms, I didn’t even participate in either of the major votes related to the project. So, tell me again, how someone benefited from my vote, when indeed, I didn’t even vote?
Matt Keys if you wanted an ACTUAL juicy story, you’d probably have asked me why I sold the building in the first place. I could enthrall you with the tales of City management and how they continually harassed me, making up code restrictions as they went, and seemingly out of thin air. I could tell you all about the direction from the top of our organization down to rank-and-file to effectively harass me into walking away. I can tell you the stories about how they continually and intentionally made it next to Impossible to do any project or Redevelopment on that site whatsoever. I can show you how they misdefined the property as in the CBD, when as of just the very last meeting we had, it was clear that it was not, and never was. I can show you the ridiculous requirements that they put on the property to even begin discussions of reusing it, that effectively didn’t exist in law. It wouldn’t be difficult to show you, how I was bullied, harassed, and made a target of by City of DeKalb staff at the time, into having few options but selling the property. I could provide examples of the several potential tenants, and or uses of the site, that the city effectively turned their back on. Now THAT would be an interesting tale… and one based in both reality and fact!
David Jacobson https://dekalbcountyevents.com/submit-news/
DeKalb County Online ???
DeKalb County Online Michael Embrey already knows all about it ð¤£
David Jacobson We’re always down for publishing interesting tales (as long as they’re truthful) 🙂
Whatever it is did not open it was just a blank form. What gives?
Patti Thompson Perkins It was a joke. He said he had an interesting tale to tell and I linked the form for him to submit his story 🙂
David Jacobson …. if you have anything to say please contact Michael Embrey
Stephen Haberkorn Oh Duh! I guess I am a little slow on the uptake. Thanks, Steve.
David Jacobson I believe the narrative is quite captivating. A contract was signed months after millions of dollars were given for a project that was hastily put together and forced through council right before an election(which I believe no incumbents won). It obviously would have looked worse if you hadn’t recused yourself from the next giveaway. Only you and Mr. Pappas know what your agreement prior to contract on the property was or when exactly the handshake happened. Free money from the taxpayers certainly swayed the decision of whoever signed the contract with you. All I know is what I’ve read and remembered from the few council meetings I have attended. I don’t know why Ann Marie was fired. I don’t know why anyone believes that Cornerstone is a 7.5 million dollar building. I don’t know why John Pappas has such an easy time getting things done when all I hear is stories like yours of the city blocking. I don’t know why Dean Frieders is still our attorney.
Actually, it was the Church that had approached me about purchasing the parking lot that started the conversation. Several members of the Church board helped negotiate the agreement so that they could control the fate of the lot. The building had been up for public auction at the end of February (for ANY interested party to bid on openly and publicly… the paper did a story or two about it) It did not meet its reserve to sell. After the auction, the Church reached out. We met in public as a group. When every one agreed on the numbers, a few days later we had the attorneys draft of the contract. Prior to signing, I notified the city that I would be selling, who was involved, and personally felt I should recuse myself on projects going forward (even though I was advised I was not in any way required to)…
Basically, if you don’t know something, Ask. More often than not, you’ll find, that when I can, I’m happy to explain things… most especially when they relate to me personally… I have found, when you have nothing to hide, it is quite easy to be wholly transparent, even if its uncomfortable or not all together necessary. Want even more access than that? Run for council… It sorely will need a skeptic that isn’t afraid to ask questions when I’m gone…
David Jacobson thanks for the endorsement. I really hope everything is sunshine and roses but it doesnât look that way from the outside.
All I can provide is facts and honest information. I can’t force anyone to accept it or to like it…
Matt Keys if you REALLY wanted to put on a Tin Foil hat, and go down rabbit holes… one of the other buildings I own in DeKalb, was platted developed and built by you guessed it… the same developer you seem to take issue with! I also own a building on Greek Row, and that same developer happens to be… wait for it… Greek! Wild stuff huh?
David Jacobson …. it is the holidays ….. let it go and enjoy family …
David Jacobson I hope, before you leave office, you will expose the dirtiness that occurs within city administration. Detail the harassment, how difficult it is to do business, and all the dirty details. In fact, you should write a tell All…. if you sell it, I will be first person in line to buy a copy
TIF began in December 1986. The Central TIF was extended 12 years in 2009.
Does this mean they will be refunding their portion back to the taxpayers for expiring TIF districts?
Justin Heuer 5 million plus will be declared surplus at the end of the year
ummm. I’m pretty sure refunding is a capital offense in government.
Jim Mitchell I’m aware, but doesn’t that money go to the taxing districts? Then they decide what to do with the $?
Mac Swan refunding money back to taxpayers?
Justin Heuer yup. In the case of school district it will more than likely go to salary
They will not refund any portion of the expired or surplus TIF to taxpayers. They will spend it or transfer it to cover a deficit in their budget and then spend more again. It is what it is. I was using satire on the capital offense comment.
Justin Heuer just remember when you get all hot and bothered under your collar about your property tax bill, how high the school district share is and the frustration regarding what TIF did and didn’t do — folks sitting in the Egyptian Theatre in July sure are enjoying the air conditioning. 😎 [more satire]
Mac Swan of course! I’m sure we will get at the $2.5 million back from the revenue from the theater lol.
Refunding taxes is not in their vocabulary.
The Egyptian brings people to Dekalb!!!
Thank you Mac SwanMac for your truthful satire. Maybe address the DeKalb School Board members that pushed the massive problem for over building a new school. $$$.
Mac Swan …. it is not the cost of the Egyptian theater Air Conditioning … it will be the annual cost to run and maintain.
Vicky Christy Torres … DeKalb needs lots of events to bring people to town. More and more towns are hosting events and local free concerts or becomes more of a challenge. Thank God there will be three free concerts every week during the coming summer in DeKalb County.
You are correct Michael Embrey Dekalb County as a whole needs every event possible!
Michael Embrey Justin Heuer, for DeKalb School District 428 to have the gall to complain about the City of DeKalb, Illinois use of TIF funds for admin and operating is laughable if not for that skyrocketing tax rate on your tax bill. They got a $21 million CONSTRUCTION grant and loopholed damn near every dime to admin and operating. Not one red cent was used to abate/refund any portion of the debt obligations. [not satire]
Mac Swan And the Dekalb School Board promised DeKalb voters that the city would get 300 new homes for five (5) years after building the overpriced new high school and there would be no additional taxes.
Mac Swan … sorry …. we don’t have 1,500 new homes.
Michael Embrey actually it was $60 million in residential new construction ($20 million EAV) annually for 20 years. But those projections were provided to the District by the City of DeKalb who had joined forces with the District to get the referendum passed (ReNew Our Schools). Oh the memories… (turn up your volume) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0DxvsUHKcA
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Great job Phil Young.