The president of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce told Northfield trustees Tuesday, July 21 that he heard zero public support for the village's proposed tax increment financing district and demanded to know why cheaper alternatives haven't gotten a real look.

Terry Dason's challenge came at a Committee of the Whole meeting where Village Manager Patrick Brennan presented five alternatives to the TIF. But by the end of the night, trustees signaled the TIF remains their preferred path to revive the village's Waukegan Road and Central Avenue corridors.

Dason attended the Wednesday, July 15 Joint Review Board meeting, where the statutorily created review body delayed its recommendation after more than two hours of debate. He told trustees the message from that session was clear.

"I did not hear a single speaker express support for moving forward with the TIF as proposed," Dason said. "The common message was clear: Why is this moving so quickly and have all of the alternatives been fully explored?"

Brennan responded with a presentation that opened with slides of deteriorating properties, empty storefronts, and overgrown vegetation labeled "Our Northfield." He then laid out the alternatives:

A Special Service Area would levy an additional property tax on businesses within the district to fund improvements. Brennan called its revenue potential "moderate" and warned it could burden already-struggling businesses. A Business Development District would impose a new 1% tax on retail sales and would last 23 years, but Brennan said revenue would be small because the downtown may attract offices rather than retail.

Property tax rebates and sales tax rebates were also presented, though officials acknowledged neither would generate new revenue or fund infrastructure like road improvements. Cook County's 6B and 7B programs offer temporary property tax reductions for industrial and commercial expansions, but Trustee Ed Elfmann dismissed the industrial option.

"Frankly I can't believe that was put up as an option — that we could use 6B — when our biggest problem is getting a grocery store," Elfmann said.

Elfmann opposed all new taxing options, arguing they would make Northfield businesses less competitive than those in neighboring villages.

Trustee Mendrek, who co-chaired the village's home rule committee years ago, said a property tax increase is "off the table" because every board has honored a longstanding pledge to never raise taxes above the Consumer Price Index. But she made the case for the TIF itself, calling it "the financially responsible approach" and saying the village does not have room in its budget to help developers without it.

Brennan framed the broader choice in terms North Shore shoppers would understand: a property tax hike is an "imported tax" paid entirely by Northfield residents, while a TIF captures "exported taxes" from shoppers driving in from Wilmette, Kenilworth, and Winnetka.

The TIF proposal has drawn opposition from residents, New Trier High School, and the school districts since the village first entertained the idea in April. New Trier argued a TIF would divert school tax revenue as new development brings more students. Brennan said the village could declare a surplus from the TIF fund to assist schools and parks if student growth materializes, though no formal commitment to do so exists.

The Joint Review Board meets again Thursday, August 13 at 2 p.m. A public hearing on the TIF district is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25.