The website was proposed by Ald. Manual Flores, 1st ward, and Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd ward.
"We want to make the TIF process more transparent and make if more proactive and more accessible to all residents,” said Flores. “We will provide a clearly spelled out protocol of what is included in all the documents."
As Chicago City Council members spoke in support of the proposed website, they continued to express the importance of consistent community participation.
Members said TIF can help build affordable housing, improve parks, schools and infrastructure, put vacant land to productive use, create high-paying jobs and meet other needs.
“Information will be archived on the city's web site,” said Valerie Leonard of North Lawndale, the 24th ward. “The information was previously available only through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) actions.”
Ald. Daniel Solis, a supporter of the website, said it will have many benefits for the city and residents.
“TIFs are offered to commercial, residential and industrial developers,” said Solis. “We can organize better and give the public better access."
The president of Independent Voters of Illinois, Bob Bartell, said, “This is the first opportunity for residents to understand TIFs.”
According to a city website, there are 130 TIF districts in Chicago, covering 30 percent of the city. TIFs are currently valued at $400 million in Chicago.
Chicago taxpayers have the right to know how tax money is being spent,” said Committee Chair Margaret Laurino of the 39th ward.
Rachel Webber, of urban planning for the University of Illinois at Chicago, who has done research on TIFs, said not having information readily available on a website “is counterproductive for the city.” The website will be a “vast improvement," making information available in one spot.
“Let's put information on line and move toward transparency,” said Webber. “More disclosure will ensure that those who apply and use TIFs will be aware that there is more monitoring going on."
The Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a coalition of more than 200 community-based groups, said in a recent report that the city's TIF program allows the city to reinvest all new property tax dollars in the neighborhood from which they came for a 23-year period. TIFs make it much easier for the city to acquire private property and demolish buildings to make way for new construction.
No final decision was made at the meeting. Laurino said the committee will look at recommendations from the aldermen and hold another hearing on the issue.
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