Evanston Scribe

City calls for service hit 1,900 mark after storm

Bob22 hours ago4 hours ago01 mins

City priorities following Tuesday’s severe storms included clearing/opening roads and sidewalks, opening storm drains, and controlling intersections, officials said in…

‘We do not have a well-run city,’ says former Alderperson Ann Rainey, explaining why she decided to enter the mayor’s race

Bob2 days ago05 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Former 8th Ward Alderman Ann Rainey formally announced Tuesday night her intention to run for mayor…

Severe storm brings street flooding, suspension of Purple Line service

Bob3 days ago01 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston officials issued a weather alert this afternoon, encouraging residents to report downed power lines and emergencies…

City officials warn free parking could lead to higher property taxes

Bob6 days ago6 days ago05 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Establishing free parking in some business districts would have a strong fiscal impact and place pressure on…

State audit tracks city’s use of Motor Fuel Tax funds

Bob1 week ago06 mins

By Bob Seidenberg An Illinois Department of Transportation audit of the city’s use of motor fuel tax funds is underway,…

City’s budget director: Evanston’s deficit looms as reserves dwindle

Bob3 weeks ago07 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s City Council has been able to tame sizable budget deficits by drawing on excess reserves and…

How the late detective Carlos Mitchem helped EPD combat street gangs

Bob4 weeks ago4 weeks ago08 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Several hundred people filled a Niles banquet hall on Friday, June 26 to celebrate the life of…

And then there were three — Evanston Public Library trustees make mass exit from the board

Bob1 month ago2 weeks ago07 mins

By Bob Seidenberg and Alex Harrison Evanston Public Library is already without a permanent executive director. As of Wednesday’s meeting,…

District 65 to consider a mutual separation agreement with superintendent

Bob1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Evanston Elementary School District 65 Board President Nichole Pinkard, and Board Vice President Chris Van Nostrand have just released this…

City may shift McGaw YMCA renovation funds to affordable housing account to avoid federal deadline

Bob2 months ago04 mins

By Bob Seidenberg Evanston Finance and Budget Committee members pushed for more details Wednesday on projects supported by $43 million…

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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