Elmhurst Weekly: Intergovernmental Cooperation—the New TIF 4 Agreement

Last Tuesday night, the District 205 School Board unanimously approved the TIF 4 intergovernmental agreement. This is an important first step in the healing process between the city and District 205. More importantly, it is a fair and progressive agreement that attempts to correct some of the misunderstanding that resulted when the Hahn Street parcel was unilaterally withdrawn from the 2004 intergovernmental agreement. The next step is for our City Council to formally approve this agreement (attached).

The subject of TIFs, and the implementation of TIF 4, has created a great deal of controversy over the last nine months. There were many delays, and there were plenty of misunderstandings. At times, some of the information communicated in public forums portrayed less than the full picture. However, when it mattered most, public officials on both sides of this issue stepped up and worked out their differences. The most credit goes to City Manager Jim Grabowski and School Superintendent David Pruneau. Despite all the public rancor, they stayed on task and continued to work together as professionals.

And on the elected official level, there are two people who decided that they should sit down, and hash out the fine print (as lawyers love to do). They put aside all past differences and perceived misunderstandings, and worked to find common ground that both of their boards would approve. The two people who stepped up to finalize the details of this agreement, of course, are acting Mayor Scott Levin and School Board member John McDonough. 

People should understand that one of the inevitable byproducts of the democratic process is a certain amount of delay. But this remains a great example of how intergovernmental cooperation can and should work. And this also shows the benefit and value of the Park/City/School Committee.

Long before the acrimonious public hearings took place in July and August of last year, City Manager Jim Grabowski briefed this committee on the city’s [then] current consideration of three new TIF districts. At the March 12, 2012 meeting for example, the city manager reported to the committee that the city was still reviewing the Phase 1 results regarding the three TIFs. And it was at that time that a member of this committee suggested to the city manager that School District properties (Conrad Fischer and Churchville) should be included in the TIF 4 map (see Meeting Notes).

This is why committees like this are so invaluable, so necessary. Although they have no actual voting power, in this and other cases, they have proven to be a great vehicle for sharing ideas and making suggestions. It would be a reach for me or any other alderman to personally claim credit for the inclusion of the Churchville and Conrad Fischer parcels in TIF 4, but I am proud to say that I was a contributing member of the committee that advanced the interests of our students and taxpayers. And I look forward to voting in favor of this Agreement.  This is the type of good-faith intergovernmental cooperation that I will embrace as mayor.

www.mulliner4mayor.com