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Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits
Orland Park, IL — Plans by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to create three TIF districts to address “blighted land developments” should be put on hold until after he releases two delinquent financial audits detailing the true nature of the village’s finances.
The Village plans to designate three TIF districts, one for the former Andrew Corporation property, one for the land adjacent to the former Petey’s II restaurant, one for the former Lincoln Mercury dealership lot on 143rd and 94th Avenue.
Mohammed Jaber who serves on the District 230 School board said the three TIF districts will redirect millions of dollars in property taxes into “a fund of uncertainty” that are earmarked for local schools, the Orland Park Library, the Orland Fire Protection District and the Village of Orland Park.
“It is irresponsible to create three new TIF districts that will redirect property taxes from these four government agencies and force them to find ways to replace the lost money without fully knowing the precise financial situation of the Village of Orland Park,” Jaber said.
“Additionally, once the true nature of the village’s finances are understood by releasing these two delinquent financial audits, the entire TIF plan should be presented to the taxpayers in a referendum to force the village to provide more specific and complete details.”
The Village of Orland Park has been cited by the State of Illinois for failing to release the financial audits for 2022 and 2023. The audits detail the financial health of a government agencies, identifying existing and future financial debt, and any impending financial problems.
“The truth is no one knows what the real financial status is of the Village of Orland Park because the Village refuses to release the audits. And when they were asked to produce the audits, they dodged public demands,” Jaber said.
“That doesn’t reinforce public taxpayer confidence in the village’s leadership. It raises so many questions in terms of what the village may be forced to do after the TIF districts are created. Will they then use this as an excuse to raise property taxes to avert catastrophe?
“How will it impact our schools like District 135 and District 230, our school children, seniors who are on a fixed income, and our taxpayers who have invested in Orland Park? This will impact the taxing bodies and the communities surrounding us that feed into District 230. Will it force a domino effect resulting in increased property taxes at a time when every homeowner is experiencing one of the largest public property assessment-driven tax hikes that we have seen in decades?”
Jaber said all three properties have been fallow for years.
“What is the harm in waiting, and educating the public about this and not rushing into it, unless there is something that the mayor is keeping from the public?” Jaber asked.
Jaber is urging residents to speak out and demand that all three TIF districts are put on hold until these serious questions are answered fully, forthrightly and immediately. If these TIFS are approved with any input, this could have long term effects on our village. We are seeing the negative affects of the 143rd and Lagrange TIF and how it cost the taxpayers.
An Orland Park resident for more than 15 years, Jaber holds a Masters of Education degree from Saint Xavier University, is a current educator, a former adjunct professor at Moraine Valley Community College, registered IHSA official, and involved in the community.
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High School DIstrict 230 President Lynn Zeder continues her silence on the horrible impact that Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s 3 NEW TIF districts will have on siphoning away much needed property taxes from the school district. It is an outrageous lack of leadership of Zeder’s part. She is RESPONSIBLE to champion the rights and needs of students and property tax owners and she is deficient. Pathetic leadership. I think she just enjoys the title more than she adheres to her responsibilities.