DeKALB – The city’s Joint Review Board will reconvene Friday at 1 p.m. to discuss the audit related to the city’s tax increment finance program, following the completion of an external audit of the past decade of TIF spending.
Representatives from the DeKalb School District 428, DeKalb County government, DeKalb Park District, DeKalb Township, Kishwaukee College, DeKalb Township Road and Bridge District, DeKalb Public Library, DeKalb County Forest Preserve and the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District will meet in the training room on the second floor of the DeKalb Police Department, 700 W. Lincoln Highway Friday at 1 p.m.
On Friday, members of the public and JRB members will hear a presentation on the TIF audit from Chicago-based Ernst & Young, the firm who conducted the audit with the approval of the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s office. An update on current TIF projects in the making will also be provided, documents show.
A completed forensic audit of the City of DeKalb’s tax increment finance spending since 2008 release May 27, shows the city used $7.9 million in TIF funds to offset salary costs, lacks consistent and complete record-keeping for TIF spending, and was including sales tax revenue in the TIF surplus to grow the increment, which auditors say needs clarification as to whether that complies with Illinois’ TIF Act.
In response, City Manager Bill Nicklas has said that he was not surprised by the audit’s findings, and said the city is already addressing much of the recommendations handed down by Ernst and Young.
He called the administrative spending “excessive,” and said the city no longer authorizes transfers like that.
“They made some good recommendations and we’ll probably take a third and fourth look at that sales tax question,” Nicklas said.
The meeting set for this week was rescheduled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown and subsequent crowd control mandates.
Because of the move to the new city hall at 164 E. Lincoln Highway, city meetings are now being held at various spaces around town, including the library for council and committee meetings, and the police department for others.
To participate in the meeting virtually via Zoom, head to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82222740604 pwd=UUZvZDlVZUQySjA5ZGU5bWw1eEVvQT09 and use the meeting ID: 822 2274 0604 and password: 112385.
To participate on your phone, call +1 312 626 6799 (Chicago).
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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