By Jamie Hicks, Investigative Journalist, Hicks News

LaSalle taxpayers deserve answers. The Kaskaskia Development, once heralded as a revitalization project for the community, has become a financial black hole—draining over $26.5 million in public funds, split across two TIF districts (TIF IV and TIF V)—with zero private investment and an incomplete hotel still standing as a symbol of mismanagement.

How Did This Happen?

1. Two TIF Districts, One Failed Project:

o TIF IV initially funded land acquisition and site preparation—$625,000 allocated just to purchase the land.

o TIF V was later tapped to fund infrastructure improvements around the site, like $1.53M in street repairs and $378,858 in streetscape upgrades, none of which led to tangible redevelopment.

2. Double-Dipping into TIF Funds:

By splitting the project between two TIF districts, the city bypassed funding limitations in individual TIFs. This allowed officials to pour millions into the Kaskaskia project without the necessary oversight, resulting in fragmented accountability and skyrocketing deficits.

3. Taxpayer Burden Grows While Private Developers Walk Away:

o TIF V now carries a staggering $89.8 million deficit, much of it tied to the incomplete Kaskaskia project.

o Despite nearly $3.5 million spent between the two TIFs, not a single dollar of private investment has been secured.

4. Misuse of TIF Funds for Non-Redevelopment Costs:

o Funds meant for direct redevelopment were instead funneled into surrounding street repairs, legal fees, and administrative costs.

o No actual hotel construction has been completed—only the surrounding infrastructure.

 Why This Matters:

TIF funds are designed to drive economic development—to attract private investment, create jobs, and grow the tax base. Instead, LaSalle officials used TIF as a slush fund for infrastructure maintenance and debt payments, leaving taxpayers on the hook for nearly $90 million in liabilities.

The Community Deserves:

• Full Transparency: Where did every dollar go? Why were two TIFs used for a single, incomplete project?

• Accountability: Why hasn’t the city held developers accountable for the failure to follow through on promised investments?

• An Independent Audit: A full audit of TIF IV and V is needed to assess mismanagement and recommend reforms.

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“LaSalle taxpayers were promised a thriving downtown hub with the Kaskaskia Hotel at its core. Instead, we’re left with an empty building, $26.5 million gone, and two TIF districts buried in debt. This is mismanagement at its worst—and the public deserves answers.”

— Jamie Hicks, Hicks News

Jamie Hicks is a lifelong LaSalle resident and publisher of Hicks News, a community-driven platform focused on transparency, environmental safety, and government accountability.