Aldermen Divided On Steering TIF Dollars Away From Community Projects To Held Fund CPS
(CBS) -- Now the ball's in the court of Chicago aldermen: Do they want to give up some cash they have for community projects to help Chicago Public Schools?
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker has dilemma they're facing.
With the old Brach's candy factory gone, Alderman Jason Ervin of the 28th Ward would like to use tax increment financing, better known as TIF to bring new jobs to the community. It's one of several projects on his list.
"We've got close to 15 million dollars that are available," Ervin said. "Infrastructure, rehabilitation projects and other things the community needs."
All told, TIFs add up to more than $1 billion, most of it already committed to neighborhood projects. Some aldermen get next to nothing, others well into the millions.
Ervin is not willing to give up any of that money.
"I don't believe that the community where those tax dollars have come from should be giving those tax dollars up to solve something that they're not going to solve," he said.
But in the 47th Ward, an upgrade to the neighborhood library as well as monies to improve the parks may be on hold because Alderman Ameya Pawar has gone on record saying he's willing to transfer $16 million of his TIF dollars to CPS.
Alderman Susan Garza figures she may have $5 million and she too is willing to give it up.
"We can't afford to lay off any more teachers," Garza said. "We can't cut anything else from CPS. It's not acceptable."
Chicago teachers haven't said how much of the TIF funds they want, but they've gone on record asking for more money.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel points out that millions in TIF funds are already used to improve school buildings. Last year $113 million in extra funds went to the schools operating budget but he says it's not fair to take it all.
"Why should we cut a library when that's as essential for a child's education as a school?" Emanuel said. "I think pitting a neighborhood library against a neighborhood school or a neighborhood park against a neighborhood school is the wrong choice."
The teachers wants the mayor to use the TIF funds to help plug the district's $480 million deficit and hopefully prevent proposed cuts.
Tomorrow principals will find out how much their school budgets will be reduced and how many counselors, clerks and other support staff they may have to lay off.
