Questions benefit of new district

How many property owners realize there is a new taxing authority in Carroll County? It’s called the Upper Mississippi River International Port District sponsored in the Legislature by Sen. Mike Jacobs, Rock Island County, Rep. Jim Sacia, Winnebago County, and Rep. Jerry Mitchell, Whiteside County.

It originally included Whiteside, Rock Island, Carroll and Jo Daviess counties. It included provisions to create an ad hoc committee to develop a transition plan from the local redevelopment authority to the port district board, and provisions that all property in the port authority district could be assessed a tax up to 1.5 percent.

At the April Carroll County Board meeting, Chairman Rod Fritz and County Administrator Mike Doty denied that Senate Bill 1784 was aimed at the property of the Old Savanna Army Ordinance Depot, or that there would be any tax obligations on property owners in the county. This was in response to a motion on a resolution to support Senate Bill 1784, creating the Port District. The wording in the bill spoke for itself.

When the bill came out of the House, it no longer included Whiteside or Rock Island counties. If this was such a good bill, why did Jacobs and Mitchell think it was still such a good bill for Carroll and Jo Daviess counties? One good thing that came out of the house bill was that the port district could no longer levy a tax of 1.5 percent, but still can levy a tax of 0.05 percent if approved by referendum of the county voters.

Don’t be duped into thinking any property in the port district will help the tax base of the county. It’s very clear and stated in the bill that all property of every kind belonging to the Upper Mississippi River International Port District shall be exempt from taxation.

The registered voters of Carroll County can still sign petitions for disconnection from the port district and have it placed on the ballot in the Feb. 2 primary election, either to stay in the port district or not. All property in Carroll County is included in the port district.