Residents question Harvey’s years-old TIF report

The decision to once again approve Harvey’s 2021 tax increment financing report sparked additional concerns about Harvey’s financial recordkeeping.

On June 22, the City Council voted to approve the city’s TIF report from 2021 — again. The council had approved it, but the item had to return for a vote once more because of an unnamed procedural issue.

During public comment, resident Amanda Askew questioned why the city was still approving 2021 reports in 2026. “You all were speaking about the TIF reports, and my concern is that you voted on the fiscal year 2021, but we’re in 2026, so that means technically we’re between four to five years behind on TIF reports,” Askew said.

A TIF freezes the equalized assessed value for upwards of 23 years. The surplus of tax revenue is then re-invested to help finance development projects. TIFs are a municipal finance tool used to spur development in blighted areas. The city is required to convene a Joint Review Board annually, composed of a representative from each of the taxing districts in the TIF area, to review its report. Then, TIF reports must be submitted annually to the Illinois comptroller. 

Harvey had not submitted reports for the previous fiscal years, for TIFs or audits. Homewood, by contrast, lists all TIF reviews, JRB packets, agendas, and meeting minutes on its website’s “transparency and fact-check portal.” Harvey’s website references a JRB meeting on Feb. 22, 2024, but has no documents attached.

Harvey has eight TIFs, according to city treasurer Aisha Pickett. However, “There are currently seven TIFs in Harvey,” the city’s website reads. Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon’s office releases an annual TIF revenue report, and only lists five TIFs that generated revenue for Harvey, as of the 2024 tax year: Arco / 147th St., Dixie Hwy., Sibley Blvd. / Dixie Hwy., RPM Business Park, and the transit-oriented development TIF, established January 2021.

The council terminated the Center Ave. and the Dixie Square Mall TIF districts on Dec. 31, 2020, Pickett said. The council formally terminated the Cresco Business Park TIF in September 2022. Pickett named the RPM Wyman Gordon TIF, which is listed on Harvey’s 2022 financial audit. The HWH could not confirm whether it was active or terminated by press time.

“You guys are playing games with the books,” said Ryan Sinwelski, echoing Askew’s concern over financial transparency. “This financial chaos has real human consequences.” 

Drewinski responded that Harvey inherited years of unfinished financial reporting, saying each audit costs about $100,000 and the city was roughly $900,000 behind in completing them. Harvey is three years behind on its annual financial audits, according to state records. “We’ve been trying to catch up, and I’m guaranteeing you, by the time I leave office, we will be one year out, like every other municipality,” Drewinski said.

Lapse in communication on bills list

Harvey officials postponed approval of the city’s bill list during the June 22 meeting after multiple alderpersons said they had not received the financial documents in time to review them.

The dispute emerged during the finance meeting and continued during the regular City Council meeting because aldermen Colby Chapman (2nd), Tracy Key (4th), Rosa Arambula (1st) and city treasurer Aisha Pickett said they did not receive the bills list until the day of the City Council meeting. 

Alds. Telanee Smith (3rd), Dominique Randle-El (5th) and Tyrone Rogers (6th) confirmed they did receive the documents the previous week. 

Acting mayor Shirley Drewinski accepted responsibility for the error and apologized to the council. “I apologize to the finance committee, it was my own fault,” Drewinski said, explaining that the deputy clerk was on vacation and she failed to ensure the documents were included in council packets. “In all honesty, I did not double-check that packet to make sure everything went out,” Drewenski said.

A motion to table the June 22 bills list until July 13 passed. Smith cast the lone dissenting vote.

Alders respond to public criticism

Ald. Smith was rude after she was asked when the next economic development committee meeting would occur, according to Amanda Askew. Smith is chair. Smith denied the comment, adding, to get respect “you have to give it.” Askew, a 5th Ward resident who has announced she will run for the seat in 2027, also indicated she had received assistance regarding an issue on her block only after she reached out to Alds. Chapman and Key — not Randle-El. He proceeded to grab the microphone and give a monologue about city services.