Evanston Scribe

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Hotly-contested 9th Congressional District Democratic primary heads to voters

Bob9 hours ago03 mins

First open race for the Congressional seat in nearly 30 years By Bob Seidenberg Voters head to the polls Tuesday…

Community members invited to vote on new dog park

Bob2 days ago01 mins

The Evanston Parks and Recreation Department, together with Fourth Ward Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma, invites community members to vote the new off-leash dog…

The man who would be mayor: Longtime leader Donald Borah dies at 85

Bob7 days ago7 days ago011 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Don Borah, a Wilbur Wright College political science professor, got the chance to put classroom theory into…

‘Reconciliation’ needed after Executive Library Director’s early departure from the position, suggests one member

Bob1 week ago1 week ago04 mins

Board okays request for proposals to find interim director By Bob Seidenberg A clearly dispirited Evanston Public Library Board voted…

Short-term rental overhaul passes on third try at City Council

Bob2 weeks ago03 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston now has new rules and regulations for short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO, as councilmembers unanimously…

A strong advocate of shared costs with the city, Executive Library Director Yolande Wilburn to step down

Bob4 weeks ago4 weeks ago05 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Public Library Executive Director Yolande Wilburn, whose selection after a 15-month search in 2023 was celebrated…

Late-arriving property taxes lower city budget deficit estimate

Bob1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

By Bob Seidenberg The second installment of property tax revenues has finally arrived at the city, leading finance officials to…

Ninth Congressional race draws full turnout at Evanston candidates forum

Bob1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Despite freezing temperatures, a full crowd has turned out tonight at Northminster Church in northwest Evanston to hear Democratic candidates…

One that got away — Barnes and Noble experiencing comeback in other places

Bob1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Barnes and Noble, once a gem of Evanston’s downtown, is staging a comeback in other places. The…

Evanston’s panhandling ordinance moves a step closer to being repealed

Bob1 month ago06 mins

By Bob Seidenberg A city committee took steps Monday night to amend an ordinance that Evanston has had in place…

Will a once obscure tax become a dedicated source for future pension funding?

Members of a city committee are scheduled later this week to consider whether a once obscure tax source should be dedicated to pay public safety pensions on a steep funding path.

Jack Mortell, president of the Evanston Firefighters Pension Board, conducted the research showing very little of PPRT monies were going to public safety pensions.

The issue is to be discussed at Wednesday’s city Finance & Budget Committee, scheduled for 5 p.m., at the Lorraine H. Morton City Hall Council Chambers, 909 Davis St.

The city has been receiving funds from the Pesonal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT), a tax established by the state to replace a tax on corporations that was declared unconstitutional, starting in 1979.

Until a few years ago, revenues from the tax which once topped $6 million went straight into the city’s General Fund and was divvied up from there.

But with the city approving a landmark policy putting funding of pensions on a 100% track by 2040, pension officials pushed for the PPRT funds to be dedicated to the payments, maintaining that was the state’s original intent.

Jack Mortell, the president of the Firefighter’s Pension Board, first called attention to the issue in 2022, finding a small percentage of the tax had been dedicated to pension payments in the 20 years previously.

— By Bob Seidenberg

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