Homer Glen schedules TIF briefing for March, staff urged to run planning in parallel

HOMER GLEN, Ill. — The Village Board agreed to schedule a briefing by TIF experts on March 11 to provide the board and the public with more information about creating a tax increment financing (TIF) district for the 159th Street corridor and to answer questions about process, timing and consultant needs.

Economic and development staff said a TIF attorney who presented at a recent IML seminar is available to brief the board, and staff recommended including both a TIF attorney and a TIF consultant to address formation and ongoing management. Director Jane Patch (presenting in the meeting) said a briefing could focus on the process, feasibility and timing.

Trustees pressed to move quickly. Trustee Schaller said TIF work should proceed “in parallel” with the comprehensive plan update so the village does not lose momentum; staff noted the comprehensive plan consultant (ACS) will begin organizational work in March. The village attorney and other trustees recommended exploring whether some TIF tasks can start before the comp‑plan is finished, though staff cautioned that consultant work to qualify specific sites typically relies on a current comprehensive plan.

Next steps: The board asked staff to schedule the March briefing, contact potential consultants (including the named presenter), and explore what preparatory work can be done now so RFQs and deeper feasibility work can run parallel to the comprehensive plan update. If trustees decide to engage consultants, formal procurement steps would follow.

Because a formal RFQ to hire a TIF consultant was discussed but not authorized at this meeting, staff will return with options and timeline recommendations at a future public meeting.