(REVISED 01-28-09)

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, INTERGOVERNMENTAL

& VETERANS RELATIONS

 

December 15, 2008

Recessed and Reconvened December 17, 2008

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present:

Chairman Suffredin, Vice-Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Claypool, Collins, Daley, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Quigley, Schneider and Sims (14) (16)

 

Absent:

Commissioners Beavers, Moreno and Steele (3) (1)

 

Also Present:

Fredda Berman, Director of Real Estate and Tax Services Division, Office of the Cook County Clerk; Bill Vaselopulos, Manager, Tax Extension and Accounting, Office of the Cook County Clerk

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Monday, December 15, 2008 at the hour of 1:30 P.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

        Your Committee has considered the following items and, upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

 

297355

RESOLUTION REGARDING PROMULGATING POLICIES RELATING TO EXPIRING TAX INCREMENT FINANCE AREAS (TIF) (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Larry Suffredin, County Commissioner.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

RESOLUTION REGARDING PROMULGATING POLICIES RELATING TO EXPIRING TAX INCREMENT FINANCE AREAS (TIF)

 

WHEREAS, many municipalities and taxing districts within Cook County, participate in over 300 Tax Increment Finance (“TIF”) “redevelopment project areas” under Section 4(a) of the Illinois Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.41 et seq. (the “TIF Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, one such TIF, the Chicago Central Loop Tax Increment Finance Program Redevelopment Project Area (“TIF Area”) is set to expire on December 31, 2008; and

WHEREAS, under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law of the State of Illinois, 35 ILCS 200/18-185 et seq., the County, as a taxing district, is able to capture a “one-time benefit” of extending levies against the Recovered Tax Increment Value (RTIV) in the amount of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) upon the expiration of the TIF Area; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board should consider what action is necessary and promulgate policies relating to RTIV monies available to the County upon the expiration of a TIF.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT:

 

1.         The Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veteran Relations Committee of the Cook County Board shall conduct a public hearing to determine what policies and actions the County Board should take with regard to expiring TIF Areas and monies available there from.

 

2.                  Such hearing shall be scheduled prior to December 17, 2008.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations as Amended on November 19, 2008.

 

Chairman Suffredin noted that every Commissioner had been given a copy of a letter from Arnold J. Randall, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Development, City of Chicago.  He also noted that a list of TIF projected for cancellation through 2013 was also distributed to all of the Commissioners.  The referenced documents were entered into the record.

 

Ms. Fredda Berman, Director of Real Estate and Tax Services Division, Office of the Cook County Clerk and Mr. Bill Vaselopulos, Manager, Tax Extension and Accounting, Office of the Cook County Clerk, delivered remarks concerning the County’s legal options.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved to defer Communication No. 297355.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

297538

DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES (APPOINTMENT). Transmitting a Communication, dated November 21, 2008 from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

Pursuant to Illinois State law, specifically 55 ILCS 5/3-14005, I hereby appoint TAKASHI REINBOLD to the position of Director of Budget and Management Services effective immediately.

 

Mr. Reinbold holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas and has a long and distinguished career in public service. His experience in the areas of Auditing, Personnel, Revenue and Budget make him an asset in developing budgets as Cook County's Budget and Management Services Director.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on December 3, 2008.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the approval of Communication Number 297538.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

297546

REVENUE DIRECTOR (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated December 2, 2008 from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2 Administration, Section 2-433 of the Cook County Code of Ordinances, I hereby appoint NATHAN PAIGE to the position of Revenue Director effective immediately.

 

Mr. Paige received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Williams College in 1981, and his Master’s Degree in Management in Finance/Strategy from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1998.  He has extensive experience in the public and private sectors, and currently serves as Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the County of Cook.  Mr. Paige’s skills and experience will be an asset to the Cook County Department of Revenue.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on December 3, 2008.

 

A letter of endorsement dated December 12, 2008 from Sandee Kastrul, President and Co-Founder of i.c.stars, and a letter of endorsement dated December 13, 2008 from Steven Rogers of the J.L. Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University were entered into the record.

 

Chairman Suffredin asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd):

 

1.       George Blakemore – Concerned Citizen

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the approval of Communication No. 297546.  The motion carried.

 

Chairman Suffredin recessed the meeting to the hour of 1:30 P.M. on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

 

The recessed meeting of the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County reconvened on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at the hour of 1:30 p.m. at the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri reconvened the meeting.

 

        Your Committee has considered the following item and upon adoption of this report, the recommendation is as follows:

 

297355

RESOLUTION REGARDING PROMULGATING POLICIES RELATING TO EXPIRING TAX INCREMENT FINANCE AREAS (TIF) (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Larry Suffredin, County Commissioner.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

RESOLUTION REGARDING PROMULGATING POLICIES RELATING TO EXPIRING TAX INCREMENT FINANCE AREAS (TIF)

 

WHEREAS, many municipalities and taxing districts within Cook County, participate in over 300 Tax Increment Finance (“TIF”) “redevelopment project areas” under Section 4(a) of the Illinois Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.41 et seq. (the “TIF Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, one such TIF, the Chicago Central Loop Tax Increment Finance Program Redevelopment Project Area (“TIF Area”) is set to expire on December 31, 2008; and

 

WHEREAS, under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law of the State of Illinois, 35 ILCS 200/18-185 et seq., the County, as a taxing district, is able to capture a “one-time benefit” of extending levies against the Recovered Tax Increment Value (RTIV) in the amount of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) upon the expiration of the TIF Area; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board should consider what action is necessary and promulgate policies relating to RTIV monies available to the County upon the expiration of a TIF.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT:

 

1.         The Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veteran Relations Committee of the Cook County Board shall conduct a public hearing to determine what policies and actions the County Board should take with regard to expiring TIF Areas and monies available there from.

 

2.         Such hearing shall be scheduled prior to December 17, 2008.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations as Amended on November 19, 2008.

 

Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Claypool, moved approval of Communication No. 297355 for discussion.

 

Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Claypool, moved to adopt the Amendment to Communication No. 297355.  The motion carried.  Commissioner Schneider voted no.

 

Amendment to Communication Number 297355

 

Sponsored by

Larry Suffredin and Forrest Claypool, County Commissioners

 

WHEREAS, many municipalities and taxing districts within Cook County, participate in over 300 Tax Increment Finance (“TIF”) “redevelopment project areas” under Section 4(a) of the Illinois Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.41 et seq. (the “TIF Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, one such TIF, the Chicago Central Loop Tax Increment Finance Program Redevelopment Project Area (“TIF Area”) is set to expire on December 31, 2008; and

 

WHEREAS, under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law of the State of Illinois, 35 ILCS 200/18-185 et seq., the County, as a taxing district, is able to capture a “one-time benefit” of extending levies against the Recovered Tax Increment Value (RTIV) in the amount of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) upon the expiration of the TIF Area; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board should consider what action is necessary and promulgate policies relating to RTIV monies available to the County upon the expiration of a TIF;

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS that:

 

1.                   The Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veteran Relations Committee of the Cook County Board shall conduct a public hearing to determine what policies and actions the County Board should take with regard to expiring TIF Areas and monies available there from.

 

2.                   Such hearing shall be scheduled prior to December 17, 2008.

 

1.                  After a hearing on the subject matter, the Cook County Board shall use as much of the $10 million RTIV as necessary to bond for $90 million, to be used for real estate tax Circuit Breaker relief as determined by the Cook County Board; and the remainder of the $10 million shall be returned to the taxpayers as a property tax rate reduction.

 

Ms. Berman and Mr. Vaselopulos delivered further remarks.

 

Commissioner Claypool offered the following clarification for the record: This produces the equivalent of an income stream that then would support a bond just like any other traditional income stream.  It is not, unlike some of the conversation heard today, “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”  It is not taking part of our budget or healthcare or pensions or something else to balance out, but rather is taking something that was not previously available to the County that now is available to the County to support a new source.

 

Commissioner Daley clarified for the record that next year the levy would be $730 million.

 

Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Claypool, moved to withdraw the motion to Approve Communication No. 297355.

 

Commissioner Claypool, seconded by Commissioner Suffredin, moved to adjourn.  The motion carried.

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

                        Communication No. 297355               Amended

                        Communication No. 297538               Approved

                        Communication No. 297546               Approved

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations

 

 

 

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Larry Suffredin, Chairman

 

Peter N. Silvestri, Vice Chairman

Attest:

 

 

 

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Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary

 

*The audio recording for this meeting is available from the Office of the Secretary to the Board, 118 North Clark Street, Room 567, Chicago, IL 60602.