Briefs: Dist. 300 passes TIF policy

The Community Unit District 300 school board has adopted a policy opposing all tax increment financing districts. In a TIF district, a municipality freezes property tax revenue shared among taxing bodies at existing levels. The additional revenue generated by the area's growth in value is then used to redevelop the district. District 300 has historically opposed TIFs, with district officials saying TIFs take money away from schools. Monica Clark, who earlier said each TIF should be considered on its own merits, was the only board member who voted against the policy.

Get your camp on

This is the final week of the season for camping on Kane County Forest Preserve District land. Sunday is the last day for camping at Paul Wolff Campground in the Burnidge Forest Preserve, 38W235 Big Timber Road, Elgin. The district's other campground, Buffalo Park in Algonquin, closed earlier this season due to flooding. The camping season will reopen May 1.

Call the district's camping hotline at (630) 444-1200, or visit www.kaneforest.com for details.

Cash reserve policy OK'd

The Community Unit District 300 school board has approved a policy that will help the district remain on sound financial footing, officials said. Under the policy, the district will work toward building up a cash reserve that can cover three months of operating expenses in case of an emergency. While this is already the district's stated goal, Superintendent Ken Arndt has said formalizing the policy helps the district obtain a better credit rating. If increases in state education funding materialize, District 300 will be able to place an additional $500,000 in cash reserve at the end of this fiscal year, officials said.