Long Grove lays out tax district plan

Long Grove residents were given a look at the village's downtown taxing district plan Tuesday, about a month before they will be able to give public input on the idea.

Long Grove has been looking at the tax increment financing district since last year as a way to help revitalize the downtown.

Beth Ruyle with Ehlers & Associates, a consultant hired to study the TIF project, clarified that creation of a TIF district doesn't mean a tax increase for residents.

She said a TIF district is funded with the difference between the amount of property tax revenue generated before a district is established and the amount after the area has new development. That difference in property taxes generated is used to help pay for improvements to the area.

Ruyle said that although no community wants an area to be called blighted as it must be in order to qualify for a TIF district, Long Grove's downtown does "have some situations that could be problems."

In Long Grove's case, the downtown area has excessive vacancies in old buildings that are no longer being used for their original purpose, she said.

However, Ruyle said that the downtown alone wouldn't generate much TIF money, which is why the proposed district also includes properties along Route 83.

Without creation of a TIF district to help fund public improvements, the vacant land on Route 83 is unlikely to develop because the area has access and utility problems, she said.

According to the process laid out by Ehlers, the village still has to convene a joint review board to look at the idea and have a public hearing for residents to express their thoughts before voting on the issue.

The village has said in the past that the TIF district isn't a done deal. However, the board said something has to be done to revitalize the downtown, and the district is one option.

The village has also been working on a downtown master plan that would help with the TIF district process but doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with it.

That plan will provide standards for the downtown when Long Grove is able to work on some projects to help rebuild and revitalize it.

The TIF joint review board meeting will be at 2 p.m. today at village hall. A public hearing, where residents can give their opinions, will be held at 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at Kildeer School, 3100 Old McHenry Road.