August 31, 2011
The Bourbonnais Township Park District is at it again. They are going to bid for what they call phase 2 work at Diamond Point Park on Career Center Road, the failed baseball park they bought in 2009 for 4.5 times the fair cash value. Under the Tax Cap law, they do have a limit on how much they can borrow without going to referendum and they keep it at the maximum year in and year out. The amount they can borrow is allowed to increase by the inflation rate year in and year out do to a law passed in Springfield about two years ago. Please click here to read the legal notice on this project published in the August 30 Country Market. The Daily Journal has never covered this story.
Background information below.
June 18, 2010
The Bourbonnais Township Park District has billed the community 29% more for debt service because of the failed baseball park purchase which is part of the property tax bill you just received. They could do this under the tax cap law because the taxpayers paid off previous park district debt and under the tax cap law the district could put the same debt level back on the books without going to referendum within a certain period of time. They had to make a purchase and get the debt back on the books before the dead line otherwise they would have to go to referendum.
Their remaining property tax levy for operation, was up 2.51%. Since the CPI which applied to this year’s bill was .1% or 1/10 of a percent, the additional 2.41% had to come from new construction. New construction should be even less next year. Note: They say this is only phase one.
Bourbonnais Township Park District Property Tax History
Diamond Sports Complex: Phase 1 Unveiled
Extensive
Phase 1 improvements to the Diamond Sports Complex on West Road in Bourbonnais
were unveiled this week. Officials were on hand to showcase the upgrades, which
include new bathrooms and a concession stand, as well as dramatic field and
hardscape renovations to accommodate Little League, adult softball and
tournament play, which began in April.
Future projects of the 3-year buildout include a playground; basketball, tennis
and sand volleyball courts; open athletic fields; trails; and a boardwalk. Learn
more at the
July 27, 2009
The Bourbonnais Township Park District Board gave their OK to going forward with the purchase of the failed baseball park on Career Center Road in Manteno Township for $2.8 million dollars despite the revelation the fair market value of the property in 2008 was 77% less or $622,674. Since it is located in Manteno Township, the Village of Bourbonnais must annexed it first. The Village has agreed to do this. A local CPA spoke during public comment in opposition. The board approved the deal anyway. One has to wonder why the park district would pay 4.5 times the fair market value of this property? The arrogance of this board continues and will never stop until citizens run against these individuals and oust them from office. See names and phone numbers below. Citizens can also put a referendum on the ballot calling for a 25% cut in their property tax levy for operating the park district. It is not too late to call the board members to tell them exactly what you think about their arrogance.
Wayne Delabre: 815-932-2377, Brian Hebert: 815-932-2896, Donna Brown: 815-933-6477, Dennis Lehnus: 815-929-9636 and Nick Allen: 815-260-9028
June 28, 2009
Bourbonnais Township Park District sent surveys to 15,000 households in the township. Around 1270, or 8.5%, is all that was returned. They now say they have support of the community to keep taxing to the max for expansion. Click here for details.
January 27, 2009
The
Bourbonnais Township Park District OKs Deal To Purchase of Failed Baseball Park For
$2.8 Million or $46,667
Per Acre. Property Owners To Get The Bill!
The Bourbonnais Township Park District Board held a public hearing Monday,
January 26.
The purpose of the hearing was to take public comment
on the park district board plan to sell $3.3 million in park
district bonds. These bonds will be paid back, plus interest, through
property taxes. They plan on using $2.8 million to purchase the 60 acre baseball complex on Career Center Road. This complex was built by private
investors who have failed to meet obligations to local governments and area
businesses. The complex has failed as a business venture.
The other $500,000 will be spent by the Park District to fix up the site, a fishing pond, bike paths
etc. Executive Director Hollice Clark said additional employees will be
hired.
Call
all five board members before they make the final decision and tell
them if you have room in your budget to pay for this $3.3 million dollar
project.
Does $46,667 per acre, plus $500,000 to fix it
up sound like a good deal to you in this real estate market?
Wayne Delabre: 815-932-2377, Brian Hebert: 815-932-2896,
Donna Brown: 815-933-6477, Dennis Lehnus: 815-929-9636 and
Nick Allen:
815-260-9028
Under the Tax Cap Law, once they have paid bond debt off, they have a window of
opportunity to sell new bonds for the same amount they paid off. If they don't
renew the bond debt paid off within the window of opportunity, they will give up
their ability to borrow the same amount in the future without a referendum.
Needless to say they will not allow the time to expire without reissuing the
bonds because they don't want to go to referendum.
As a result of this action, their portion of the property tax bill, which is
dedicated to paying principal and interest on outstanding bonds, will not be
allowed to stay down, instead it will go back up. In addition, this
property will be taken off the tax roll. As a result, property taxes now
being paid to schools, library, county, park district, etc. will no-longer be
collected but will have to be made up by the rest of the property owners still
on the tax roll.
January 16, 2009 Legal Notice
Notice of Public Hearing Concerning The Intent of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Bourbonnais Township Park District, Kankakee County, Illinois to Sell $3,300,000 General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Bourbonnais Township Park District, Kankakee County, Illinois (the "District"), will hold a public hearing on the 26th day of January, 2009, at 5:00 o'clock P.M. The hearing will be held at the Perry Farm House, 459 North Kennedy Drive, Bourbonnais, Illinois.
The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds of the District in the amount of $3,300,000 for the payment of land condemned or purchased for parks, for the building, maintaining, improving and protecting of the same and the existing land and facilities of the District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto. By order of the President of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Bourbonnais Township Park District, Kankakee County, Illinois. Dated the 15th day of January, 2009. Mileen M. Joines Secretary, Board of Park Commissioners Bourbonnais Township Park District, Kankakee County, Illinois.