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June 5, 2007
Bourbonnais Crossing Another New Development In Bourbonnais Not Sharing In The Cost Of Needed New Schools
The Village of Bourbonnais announced another residential/commercial development coming to the area to benefit from the population growth but will not be asked to share in the cost of growth i.e. new schools. The name of the development is Bourbonnais Crossing. It will be located at the North/West corner of Route 45 and Indiana Oaks Road. It will be a mixture of retail and residential development. According to the web site of the developer, the village will be providing a 10 year tax abatement to the commercial development. This means no property taxes will be paid to schools for 10 years. OUTRAGE is also hearing that a TIF district is being considered for that area by the village. TIF districts can have tax benefits for up to 23 years. In addition, the residential development will in all likely hood not be paying any impact fees to schools to help with the costs of school buildings needed for population growth thereby forcing most of the costs on to existing businesses and homeowners.
Bradley/Bourbonnais High School is already planning a third referendum that will be on the ballot this coming February for a first phase of a planned new high school that, when completed, will cost an estimated $100, 000,000. Both St. George and Bourbonnais Elementary are planning their own referendum to raise property taxes. Without any help from residential and commercial developers, property taxes will rise to levels which will force existing homeowners out of their homes . We are already seeing existing businesses abandoning their present locations, where they will be taxed to pay for new schools, for new locations that have up to 23 year TIF district tax benefits of not paying any property taxes to schools or any other taxing body in the area.