Cities' TIF discussions become a county concern
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Saline County Board spent much of Thursday's meeting discussing Tax Increment Financing districts.
Treasurer Danny Ragan presented a report on TIF to the board, which detailed how a TIF district works and why it may not be in the county's best interest to extend Harrisburg's current TIF or create a new one, which was recently proposed by Mayor Eric Gregg.
According to Ragan's handout, "the premise of a TIF district is that it will improve a blighted neighborhood by diverting tax money that would normally go to taxing districts (county, schools, parks, libraries, etc.) and improving the infrastructure with that money."
Harrisburg's current TIF district, which was created in 1994, has collected more than $8 million in taxes. The current TIF balance is between $2.5 and $3 million, according to Ragan's report.
Some of that money was used to repair Harrisburg's levee and build a new water tower, but it was unclear to Ragan where the rest of it was spent.
"This whole TIF thing is really scaring me," said board member Gary Siebert.
According to tax documents provided by Ragan, Arrowhead Shopping Center, which is in Harrisburg's TIF district, has been taxed $140,249 so far this year. Of that, $140,179.68 went into the TIF. Unit No. 3 school district received $30.18, and the county received $8.60.
After looking at the documents, State's Attorney Mike Henshaw said, "Something's wrong with that and I don't think it's right."
According to Ragan, if it were not for the TIF, other governmental bodies would be receiving what he believes would be a fairer share of the area's tax dollars.
The board also discussed TIF districts in Eldorado. It is rumored there is talk of putting the entire city of Eldorado in a TIF district.
"I don't know how you can declare a whole city blighted," Henshaw said.
Henshaw recommended hiring an attorney who is an expert in TIFs to help the county determine its next steps.
With Unit No. 3 headed into a deficit budget and the county barely surviving month to month, Gregg's plan to extend Harrisburg's current TIF district and possibly create a new one may be soon under fire from county officials.
During the meeting:
--County Engineer Jeff Jones, who administers the county's flood plains, presented a new "Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance" to the board, which will be on file in the courthouse for public viewing until next month, when the board will vote on the ordinance.
--The board voted to give a raise to the Fraternal Order of Police. The raise will be 25 cents per hour for the first year, 25 cents per hour for the second year and 50 cents per hour for the third year. Additionally, a portion of retirees' health insurance will be subsidized.
--Circuit Clerk Kim Buchanan reminded everyone that nomination packets for elected county positions are still available at the courthouse.