Thursday May 12, 2016 Vol. 4, No. 11
The Weekly Post
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Legislation could require more disclosure on TIFs By BILL KNIGHT
Taxpayers may see more clearly what local governments are offering developers if a bipartisan proposal approved by the House 110-3 on April 13 passes the state Senate, which is considering the measure this week. House Bill 3760 would make municipalities report the costs of tax deals they make with private businesses by requiring tax subsidies including incentives, tax abatement, and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to be listed as “commuFor The Weekly Post
nity investment” in annual financial reports. The bill also would mandate more transparency in how local governments offer tax breaks – which can also include utility rate subsidies, loans and bonds, and city-financed infrastructure improvements – through the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “I viewed the bill as a transparency issue,” said Republican State Rep. David Leitch (Dist. 73), talking to The Weekly Post. “So many projects need some help today because of the difficult economy,
New law restricts school discipline
especially in smaller rural communities. Without it, projects likely won't happen. It is also healthy to have some sunshine so all the parties – public, local units of government – can evaluate their situation if they wish to.” After passing the House, the bill was assigned to the Senate Revenue Committee on April 27. “Some municipalities thought it would be too cumbersome,” Democratic State Sen. David Koehler (Dist. 46) told The Weekly Post. “We’re going to try to make it easier. It should be amended this
DOWNTOWN BASEBALL
By BILL KNIGHT
As if area schools had nothing else to do, administrators are working on new policies that schools have to implement by September to conform to a state law passed last year, changing rules for suspending/expelling students, prohibiting any “zero tolerance” practice, training teachers and staff in the new procedures, and coming up with “positive interventions,” among other mandates. Superintendents seem resigned to the changes in Senate Bill 100 but not enthusiastic. “This will force schools to change some procedures regarding either serious ofAsplund fenses or habitual offenders,” says Farmington Superintendent John Asplund. “This change could mean more costs, especially if there are a very large number of students in intervention/bridge programs or in-school suspensions. It places more restrictions on schools at a time when we all know money is tight – another unfunded mandate.” In Elmwood, Superintendent Chad Wagner outlines schools’ new responsibilities. “SB 100 will require schools to change a number of concepts when approaching stuFor The Weekly Post
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week to make it easier to comply. I’ll vote for it regardless.” The bill was introduced by Democratic State Rep. Jack Franks (Dist. 63), who issued a statement saying, “We’re just looking for transparency and accountability in local government. “Providing tax incentives can be good public policy, but it should be up to the taxpayers to determine if they are worthwhile,” he added. Sid Stahl, Village President of Princeville, which has three Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) districts, said he Continued on Page 15
BYE moving forward with new facility By JEFF LAMPE
ELMWOOD – B.Y.E. Ambulance Service is moving forward with plans to build a new building on the west side of town here. The proposed building for B.Y.E. Ambulance on South Knox Street is planned as a 3,328-square-foot facility with living quarters of two bedrooms, a dayroom and kitchen, an office and training room, and two vehicle bays facing Knox. B.Y.E. hired the Architectural Design Group of Peoria to draw up possible plans for the new building (see blueprints, Page 9). B.Y.E. is accepting bids for the project through May 17 and hopes to start construction soon thereafter, according to B.Y.E. representative Dave Maher. “We’d like to do something as soon as possible, but it’s a matter of getting the bids back and seeing how they look and then proceeding with it,” Maher said. “If the bids come in extremely, high, it’s going to be hard to move forWeekly Post Staff Writer
Phil McIntosh (left) from the Kickapoo Valley youth baseball league and Kickapoo Township Supervisor Karl Koy take time out from a recent cleanup day at Kickapoo’s ballpark. Photo by Bill Knight.
Kickapoo’s glimpse of Heaven
the first organized baseball game featuring the New York KnickerKICKAPOO – Even Paradise bockers in 1845. might be improved. Here, the park has a Bordered by a church, gift history with Our Parks 110-year shops, a school and tavern, baseball. But the park has This is the Kickapoo’s park area seems undergone some modernfinal story in a like a glimpse of Heaven. In ization in recent years, series on parks some ways, that ties to the and soon will also add a in local National Pastime’s long hisnew playground area that communities. tory of play in local vertriples the size of the cursions of Nirvana, from rural rent playset area as well as pastures and urban sandlots to New new backstops at the park, which has Jersey’s Elysian Fields, the site of By BILL KNIGHT
Weekly Post Staff Writer
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