Loading...
Vol. 8, No. 1 - Jan 1987January,1987 Vol. 8 No.1 IMPORTANT!!! CHANGE -IN THE SCAVENGER SERVICE!!! The Mayor and Board of Trustees have approved a revision to our contract with Laidlaw Waste Systems --- and that revision affects many of the residential customers in Deerfield. Effective FEBRUARY 17th, we are going to a two-day pick-up week instead of the present six -day week. EVERYONE will be picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays, with the exception of once -a -week customers who will be picked up on Fridays. The last day of the six -day week will be February 14th. Beginning the next Tuesday, which is February 17th, there will be eleven trucks in the Village and they will cover the whole Village. Forget the old Monday -Thursday, Tuesday -Friday, or Wednesday -Saturday routine!! • No other provisions of the contract will be changed. This change is prompted by increased landfill costs that require adjustments in the scaven- ger's operation in order to maintain our current rates. Nevertheless, there are distinct advantages to the Village. - The former Monday -Thursday people won't have to suffer through the holidays any longer! Most holidays fall on a Monday, which used to mean no pick-up until the next regularly scheduled day. NOW everyone will be picked up the day following any holiday which falls on a Tuesday or Friday. - Instead of six days a week, scavenger trucks will be on our streets on only two days a week. - Instead of cans at the curb somewhere throughout the Village six days a week, this will be limited to two days. - We can expect increased supervision by Laidlaw management since they need be in Deerfield only two days instead of six days. Nothing else changes. We have excerpts from the contract describing the service and answering the most frequently asked questions. If you'd like a copy, stop in the Village Hall. We'll also be glad to answer any other questions you may have. Large appliances, furniture... the old "Spring Clean Up" junk will still be included in the service, as will four bundles of brush at each pick-up. You will have to wait until sun- down on Monday or Thursday before you place refuse at the curb. Once -a -week service is limited and available only to families of three or less people. ALL CALLS ABOUT THE SERVICE SHOULD BE MADE DIRECTLY TO LAIDLAW - 945-5558. This speeds up the corrective measures since they have all the records at their office. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING In.December of 1986, the Mayor and Board of Trustees adopted ordinances which established • a TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT (TIF) for the Village Center. Since this is such an im- portant issue which will have long range benefits for the community., we are devoting a lot of space in this issue of D-TALES to it ... :and we hope to make you all experts on TIF by the time you finish reading this! WHAT, you may well ask, is TIF? Good question! Here, in simple terms, is the answer: - A redevelopment plan is.adopted (in this case, for the Village Center District shown on the map below). - Once that's done, the existing value of all taxable property in the project area is frozen at the Current assessed valuation. - Now all future property tax revenue (assessed valuation above the frozen base times the total tax rate) is assigned to the redevelopment agency, which is the Village. For example: Say the current assessed valuation of all taxable property in the downtown area is $1,000,000. That's frozen at $1,000,000. New private development then occurs, increasing the assessed valuation to $1,500,000. That $500,000 is the INCREMENT! Taxes on that $500,000 will now be allocated to the TIF fund and will be used by the Village for public improvements within the Village Center. III►%"`1_� s�_,,PROJECT AREA Village Center N:1 Tax Increment District PARK � �� ���� r�� H1. �111111■ 111�� 11111 ��N NI IIIN�!L �IIIS / i�'I"'��i �� 1�1111�1�•�� \NMI NMI N Bell 1111111 ������I��1� 11111 ► �IIONE �illllllllll, 111111 ;`� , We all agree that our Village Center needs help. A long-time resident once said that when he has guests from out-of-town, he . makes sure they avoid the business district and concentrate on the residential areas! You have to remember, though, that our Village Center was built around the crossroads of Deerfield and Waukegan Roads and it's O-L-D!! It's long past time for.redevelopment that will provide a much needed face lift. All taxing bodies continue to receive re- venues from the frozen assessed valuation for the lifetime of the TIF District. When the District is dissolved, their revenues are based on the new assessed valuation -- and everyone.gains, plus which we have a re- vitalized Village Center which we can show to our.out-of-town guests and be proud of it. The Village, in addition to receiving reduced real estate taxes during the lifetime of the TIF,.will also be allocating a portion of the sales tax revenues to this project. While this increases our financial commitment to the project, we are convinced that the end results will be well worth it. NOW, you want to ask the KEY QUESTION ... as a taxpayer, how does this TIF affect ME??? Well, you'll be happy to know that there is no direct cost to you whether you live inside or our - side the redevelopment area. At the'December 15th Board meeting, Mayor Forrest spoke briefly about the reasons for es- tablishing a TIF District in the Village Center. We're reprinting his remarks which ad- dressed some of the question raised about this project. is MAYOR FORREST'S STATEMENT ON TIF,`FOR THE: VILLAGE.CENTER December 15, 198611, �or at least the last twenty.years,'there 'have..bee.n several attempts to upgrade and redevelop arts of our Central Business District. We now find that a window of opportunity has been opened to assist us in accomplishing an improvement without impacting our taxpayers and Central Business District property owners. Unfortunately, that window closes on December 31st so that action on setting up the proposed Tax Increment Financing District must be accomplished tonight. We certainly agree with the school districts' assessment that excellent schools are a necessity and that they must be kept financially viable in order to provide quality education. We do not agree that the downtown Tax Increment Financing District will have a negative impact on any of our taxing bodies. In�addition, while District 109's financial problem is immediate, any effect on the District - positive or negative - will be longer term. To review - very little new development has occurred in the Village Center over the past twenty years. This has been evidenced by,the rather minor increases in assessed valuations during that same period, and`by the fact that the current assessed valuation of the Village Center is only $9,896,435, 3.5�..of the School Distr'ict's total assessed valuation. In spite of the fact that we have experienced increased sales tax receipts due to expanded'` retail in outlying`shop- ping-centers, our overall sales tax revenue increased,�onl"y. 2% i_n',the past year'. Although specific numbers are 'not available from the State, we can"only conclude that sales tax receipts have declined in the Village Center due to lack of redevelopment. There are additional facts whi-ch must be considered in connection with our plans to use Tax Increment Financing': 1. All indications are that, without some financial participation by the Village, redevelopment o.f the Village Center simply will not occur. The alternative to TIF is to continue a policy of "waiting and hoping" for redevelopment. Private reinvestment hasn't occurred thus far, and is unlikely to occur on its own in the future. 2. Redevelopment, as we envision it, will not affect the district's enrollment or operating costs. Even with the possible multi -family development proposed for the area, we expect no increased burden on any of the other taxing districts. 3. Based on conservative projections of new development in Deerfield, exclusive of the Village Center, we estimate that the assessed valuation will increase by approximately $20 - $25 million over the next five-year period. The. earliest increase will occur with the occupancy of the 1717 Deerfield Road building, scheduled for May 1, 1987. Also, the Village anticipates that within two years, surplus funds from the Lake -Cook Road TIF District will be allocated to all local taxing bodies. This°will amount to a direct cash outlay and is a good example of how TIF can work successfully. It should be understood that, in addition to the real estate tax increment, the Village will be allocating a portion of its sales tax to the Village Center redevelopment project. This significantly increases our financial commitment, and affects the Village's general operat- ing funds, as well. Nevertheless, the short term sacrifices are justifiable and acceptable in light of the long-term benefits TIF can provide the community. To reiterate, if Deerfield is to be successful in addressing the problems of the Village Center, the time to act is now. Never before have we had the interest and support of the private sector, nor the benefits we can garner through the new sales tax legislation that, will change after December 31st. Through TIF, all taxing bodies, including the Village, experience a delay in new tax receipts but benefit immeasurably from the long range.tax dollars generated by new development In light of these facts, I am urging the Board this evening to pass the TIF ordinances. I believe we should delay any action on the requests of the school districts to refund TIF revenue. Rather, we should monitor the TIF program closely and evaluate annually its impact on other taxing districts. It is in everyone'sbest interest that we maintain open dialogue with all other local governmental bodies and work together on-th'is project. CARING FOR OTHERS DAY SISTER CITY This special day was established three years ago to encourage Deerfield residents to re- member and assist those less fortunate than they. February 14th was selected as Caring for Others Day because Valentine's Day has always symbolized love ... and this day takes love one step farther to encompass not only family loved ones but others who especially need love and caring. Food, clothing and other necessities will be collected and distributed. If you would like to participate or if you have sugges- tions to expand the program, it's not too late .... call Rose Mary Stavropoulos now, at 945-8144. The next blood drive will be held at the Community Center on March 1st. Be a friend, for life. You can make an appointment by calling 298-9660 or 948-5784.... or you can just go to the Community Center between 8:00 A.M. and noon. IT FIGURES! It's budget time again (already???) and we are in the first stages of that annual ac- tivity. The proposed budget will go to the Mayor and Board in early March. After they review it, it will be placed on file for YOU to examine. Then in April, there will be a public hearing - again, to get your in- put. After that, it's adopted and becomes the financial. framework for the following year. .. _ ap ***** VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD 850 Waukegan Road Deerfield, Illinois 60015 Fire Department .....................945-2121 Fire Department Non -Emergency .......945-4066 Police Department ...................945-2131 Police Department Non -Emergency .....945-8636 Village Hall ........................:945-5000 BERNARD FORREST, Mayor TRUSTEES James L. Marovitz Edwin B. Seidman Cynthia J. Marty Vernon E. Swanson Harriet Rosenthal J. Robert York It seems that most residents are unaware of the fact that Deerfield's Sister City is Ludinghausen, Germany. We have a Sister City Committee, chaired by Dr. Bill Sause, and we need another member for the committe� If you're interested, call us and we'll sen you a Manpower sheet. Speaking German helps but it's not mandatory! Also, Dr. Sause has arranged for a small dis- play at the Library... stop in and take a look at it. ABOUT THE LEAF SURVEY... Well, it wasn't exactly overwhelming, but we did get a few suggestions. These will be evaluated by the Village Board in conjunction with budget discussions. More on this later J_ in the year. MARK YOUR CALENDAR April 7th is election day. You'll be voting for Park, Library and Village officials and for a referendum for School District #109. Polls will be open from 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Call the Town Hall if you need to find out where you vote (945-8317). • March 22nd, at 3:00 P.M., Wilmot Junior High.... Deerfield Community Concert Band 17th-season Spring Concert. Admission is free - and the music is great! POSTAL CUSTOMER DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS 60015 Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. I Deerfield. Illinois CAR/PRESORT Printed at Standard Printing Service, Inc. (312) 498.6126