U-46 opposed to Bartlett tax idea

Saying it could make better use of the tax revenue, the Elgin Area School District U-46 board "strongly opposes" the possible extension of a special taxing district used to spur development in downtown Bartlett.

"There are ($2 million in) reserves," said U-46 board member Dale Spencer. "They've made a ton or money over the years."

In 1986, Bartlett village trustees established a Tax Increment Financing District for its downtown core.

In a TIF district, property tax collections from various governmental bodies are essentially frozen for as long as 23 years, and incremental increases in taxes due to increased value are funneled into public improvements for that area.

Bartlett officials want to extend the TIF one more year because there are still vacant properties downtown.

U-46 leaders contend the TIF has actually produced $19 million for Bartlett to get its downtown going when the original plan was to generate about $5 million.

School officials, in a resolution passed this week, also say Bartlett has $2 million in reserves with no plan in place of how to spend it.

School board Presidents Ken Kaczynski said the district, which recently laid off nearly 350 teachers, could better use the $500,000 additional tax revenue it would collect if the TIF district was dissolved.

"It's time to let it end," Kaczynski said. "From a fiduciary responsibility on this board's part, we think we could put those tax dollars to better work."

So far, Bartlett's Economic Development Commission has held one meeting to suggest ideas about the how to continue downtown improvement, and extending the TIF district was one idea floated.

"This is a brainstorming session," said Jim Plonczynski, Bartlett's director of community development. "But there is no formal proposal in front of the village board to extend it."

The Bartlett Library District also opposes the idea, he said.

The next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Bartlett village hall, 228 S. Main St., and U-46 officials will state their case then.

A third meeting is scheduled for July 13, and if the commission makes a recommendations then, the earliest Bartlett trustees could vote is July 21.

Plonczynski said if the TIF is extended a year, about $1.5 million more will be collected. This funding may be used for facade improvements and street scape projects.

The initial TIF plan projected about $9.5 million in expenditures, he said.