MONDAY
S ep t em b er 15 , 2014 • $1 .0 0
HUSKIE VICTORY NIU shuts down UNLV with a 48-34 win in Las Vegas / B1 HIGH
Drew Hare
LOW
57 41 Complete forecast on page A10
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DeKalb looks to spend tax revenue By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The pressure for DeKalb leaders to find other ways to fund certain city operations is increasing as they look for the best ways to spend the rest of special tax revenue that will disappear in the next six years. The city currently uses some of the special revenue, incremental tax generated by the city’s two tax increment financing districts, to pay for city operations and street repairs. But City Manager Anne Marie Gaura said a team of
Funds generated by two TIF districts will disappear in next six years city staff is starting to question whether that is the best use for money with a limited lifespan. “As we look at different projects, there are projects that may only happen within the confines of the TIF district that may only happen within that period of time,” Gaura said. “And that once that TIF funding goes away, any opportunity for that project goes away. Whereas there’s always going to be the issue for maintaining the roads.”
TIF districts allow the city to divert property tax money into a special account that is used to rehabilitate blighted areas. The Central Area TIF district, which covers downtown DeKalb and Sycamore Road, expires in 2020. A second TIF district that covers a portion of the city between Lincoln Highway and Taylor Street expires in 2018. Between the two TIF districts, the city will have more than $20 million available for projects, Economic Develop-
ment Coordinator Jennifer Diedrich said. A team of city staff meets every other week to create a phase-out plan for spending the remaining money. DeKalb aldermen should see the plan by the end of the year. Gaura told members of the city’s Finance Advisory Committee on Thursday, it would be in the city’s best interest to wean off using TIF dollars to support general fund operations. The city’s current budget
includes $1.4 million in TIF money going into the city’s general fund. According to information presented to the Finance Advisory Committee, transfers in excess of $1.1 million would continue through the next seven fiscal years. This year, TIF money also will fund $1 million in street repairs, which City Engineer John Laskowski explained doesn’t come close to the $6.6 million the city should spend to maintain roads. One option committee members
have heard is increasing the city’s home rule sale tax by 1 percentage point from 1.75 percent to 2.75 percent, which would raise another $4 million. Gaura didn’t have any specific projects in mind for TIF dollars, although she said the committee is exploring those spelled out in the City Center Plan and other planning documents. Phase out plans also could include issuing a general obligation bond to pay for improvements, like leaders did for downtown
See TIF DISTRICTS, page A4
Diplomatic push grows against extremists
Dog lovers and do-gooders
By LORI HINNANT The Associated Press PARIS – Newly outraged by the beheading of yet another Western hostage, diplomats from around the world are in Paris pressing for a coherent global strategy to combat extremists from the Islamic State group – minus two of the main players and without any ground troops – in a conflict that threatens to spill beyond the Mideast. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been pressuring allies ahead of a conference today to show a united front, especially from majority-Muslim nations, saying nearly 40 countries agreed to contribute to a worldwide fight to defeat the militants before they gain more territory in Iraq and Syria. The White House said Sunday it would find allies willing to send combat forces – something the United States has ruled out – but that it was too early to identify them. The U.S. has so far been alone in carrying out airstrikes. Several Arab countries offered to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State group, according to a State Department official traveling with Kerry who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomat developments during his trip. A second official gave some examples of what the U.S. would consider a military contribution: providing arms, any kind of training activity and airstrikes. Muslim-majority countries are considered vital to any operation, although there have only been vague offers of help previously. Iran was struck off the invitation list, and Western officials have made clear they consider Syria’s government part of the problem. “Ultimately, this is a fight within Islam, within Sunni Islam,” White House chief of staff Denis McDonough told Fox News on Sunday. “That’s why we know that ultimately to defeat and ultimately destroy ISIL, something that is not only in our interest but in the interest of the countries in the region, they are going to need to take the fight to it,” he said, using one of the acronyms for the group. “We’ll build, we’ll lead, we’ll undergird, and we’ll strengthen that coalition. But ultimately, they’re going to help us beat them on the ground,” McDonough said.
Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Susana Martin, 10, of Sycamore pets Laky, a 4-year-old German Shepherd from the Save-A-Vet organization, at the ninth annual Tails Mutt Strut 5K on Saturday at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. Martin recently donated $5,000 from a grant she and her family won from Family Fun Magazine and Generation On global youth service nonprofit to Save-A-Vet, a nonprofit that helps rescue military and law enforcement working dogs and other service animals from being put down when their service is done, and to provide housing and relief for disabled veterans who help take care of them. Martin won the grant from launching her Halloween costume drive last year, an event she’s continuing this year by collecting costumes for kids less fortunate.
Several charities meet at TAILS Humane Society’s Mutt Strut By STEPHEN HABERKORN news@daily-chronicle.com DeKALB – Susana Martin didn’t have a dog to bring to the ninth annual Mutt Strut. Instead, the 10-year-old Sycamore girl went to see a former military service dog she helped indirectly through the Halloween Costume Club community service project, which won the National Volunteers Contest in Family Fun magazine that recognizes creative community service ideas. The family chose to give the winning $5,000 grant to Save-A-Vet, which helps both veterans and former military dogs. Mutt Strut itself attracted hundreds of dog lovers and do-good-
Halloween Costume Club donation drop boxes will be out from Sept. 22 to Oct. 12 at the following locations: Sycamore Library, DeKalb Public Library, Kishwaukee Family YMCA, Feed’em Soup, Northern Illinois Dance Center, North Grove Elementary School and West Elementary School in Sycamore. ers to Hopkins Park on Saturday, raising money for TAILS Humane Society in DeKalb and showcasing seven other animal rescue organizations. “It’s fun to let her go and enjoy these dogs that are helping other people, too,” said Susana’s mother, Jeanette Martin. “[The
Mutt Strut] is a 5K, and we actually joined a running group, but because she has a soccer game she’s not running. Next year, we’ll make that the priority.” The family plans to continue their Halloween Costume Club, too. Last year, they collected more than 325 Halloween costumes, which they distributed at Hope Haven and Safe Passage shelters and Feed’em Soup in DeKalb, and the Kishwaukee Family YMCA in Sycamore. Every child at Hope Haven and Safe Passage received a costume, with a few extras so they could have choices. The family collects infant to adult sizes, washes all the costumes they receive, and sorts them in their living room with
the help of friends. This year, the Martins’ goal is to collect enough costumes for the next two years. They also are hoping the children who received costumes last year will bring them back in exchange for a new one. Meanwhile, Save-A-Vet leaders are trying to establish a DeKalb location so they can help veterans go to school at Northern Illinois University. They negotiated unsuccessfully to lease space in the Lincoln Residence Hall on the NIU campus and now they are looking at other options, such as foreclosed properties they can fix up. “It all comes down to property for us. We have no shortage of
LOCAL
Ladies Night Out
Trees to come down Face time
Racing team donates money to breast cancer fundraiser / A3
Sycamore, DeKalb to cut down trees infested with emerald ash borer beetle / A3
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See MUTT STRUT, page A4
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