The debate over whether Northwestern University should pay for services the school receives from Evanston took center stage once again Tuesday night during a public forum sponsored by the city’s Democratic Party.
The event offered the north suburb’s residents a chance to voice their opinions on an issue that some believe costs the city millions of dollars in lost revenue each year. They argue that the state charter, passed in 1851, that gives the university its property tax-free status should be scrapped, or the school should make a voluntary contribution to the city for the municipal services it receives.
There is a non-binding question on the March 21 ballot asking whether the city should negotiate with NU to obtain annual payments for its share of the costs of fire, police and other services the city provides.
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Alan Cubbage, Northwestern vice president for university relations, fielded dozens of questions from residents on the school’s financial strength and its campaign to raise $1 billion. The forum was held at Democratic Party Headquarters on Custer Street.
Cubbage said that the school’s employees spend millions in Evanston each year and that the university paid the city nearly $3.5 million in fees and tax-generating rents on commercial buildings last year. He also noted the university has its own police force and has a private garbage contractor.
Crime drops: Evanston crime is at its lowest level in 16 years, according to figures released Wednesday by the city’s Police Department. Almost 500 fewer crimes were reported in the city in 1999 than the year before.
“I believe our partnership philosophy has played a significant role in reducing the crime rate,” said Evanston Police Chief Frank Kaminski. “A lot of it depends on our ability to maintain the relationships we’ve established. That’s a key.”
Crime dropped 8.7 percent compared with the previous year. That decrease piggybacks on a 26 percent decrease in 1998, although the report said some of that can be attributed to changes in the way statistics are gathered and crimes are classified.
The biggest drops were in theft, burglaries and aggravated assault and battery reports. There also were fewer criminal sexual assaults.
Robberies, however, were up 36.3 percent in 1999, with 184 committed in that time period. There were two murders in 1999, the same as the year before.
Niles referendum: Faced with increasing enrollment and aging facilities, Niles Township High School District 219 is making the rounds to garner support for the March 21 referendum on a $65 million construction project.
Supt. Griff Powell presented a video to the Niles and Skokie Village Boards on Tuesday night, outlining the need for the district’s first building bond referendum in 32 years. The two high schools need space for additional athletic programs, special education classrooms and computer labs. Niles West was built in 1958 and Niles North in 1964.
The video also addressed the need for physical upgrades, including new roofs and utilities upgrades.
The proposal would affect Skokie, Niles, Morton Grove, and Lincolnwood. If approved, the project would translate into a roughly $40 annual increase in property taxes on a $200,000 home over the next 20 years, according to Powell. If approved, the district would be eligible for an additional $20 million in state funding, he said.
Highcrest expansion: Wilmette School District 39 board members moved forward Tuesday with a $5.1 million proposal to add eight permanent classrooms and a gymnasium at Highcrest Middle School to ease crowding..
The board authorized the district to proceed with design plans for the project, to be completed by August 2001.
Also Tuesday, the board agreed to spend $109,000 to lease four mobile classrooms for one year. They would be located at the southern end of the school and be put in use in the fall. The school already has four mobile classrooms.