Evanston committee recommends West Evanston TIF run to its 2029 expiration after debate over Mason Park and school funding

The Evanston Finance & Budget Committee on May 6 recommended that the West Evanston Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district be allowed to expire naturally in 2029, voting 8–0 to make that recommendation to the full City Council.

TIF consultant Zalmasak opened the discussion by correcting the record: the West Evanston TIF currently maintains about $4.2 million in the account. He outlined three near‑term uses that remain in the TIF plan: completion of the Mason Park expansion, a land acquisition and redevelopment opportunity at Brown and Greenwood, and a city contribution to the HODC affordable housing project at Church and Daryl.

Members debated alternatives. Some members argued for an extension (the statutory maximum referenced during discussion was 12 years) to allow the TIF to generate increment to finish larger neighborhood improvements without increasing general obligation debt. Supporters of keeping the TIF through 2029 said the current forecast shows the district can cover the three projects by its natural end date and that closing the TIF early could force the city to bond for the same work at higher net cost.

Other members, noting the effect on school funding, urged caution. Council member Davis highlighted the practical difficulty of asking District 65 to forgo roughly $954,833 per year in incremental revenue, saying he did not expect the district to accept such a trade. Staff and the consultant noted that some TIF commitments are already in motion: the Church and Daryl HODC project is "committed," and closing the TIF early would leave a gap of approximately $5 million to finish Mason Park as currently envisioned.

City engineer Lara Biggs described Mason Park as in design with contract documents forthcoming and priced at roughly $9 million; she said some related safety and pedestrian improvements likely would move into a later phase if additional funds are not available now. The consultant also noted other funding avenues — brownfield grants, state environmental grants, revenue sharing negotiations with the school district and potential bond financing — but cautioned that those sources take longer or would increase net cost.

The vote: Council member Nussbaum moved and Dr. Maguire seconded a motion recommending that the TIF "continue as scheduled" and expire in 2029; the motion passed 8–0.

What’s next: The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council. Staff said they can pursue options such as revisiting the plan to emphasize housing or to negotiate revenue‑sharing with the school district if the council directs further work.