Three school districts and other taxing bodies could get a boost in property taxes from the proposed pork plant if the city of East Moline and Triumph Foods LLC reach an agreement.

Monday, East Moline aldermen will discuss a proposed redevelopment agreement with Triumph that calls for city officials to create a tax-increment finance district encompassing the proposed pork plant site at 172nd Street North and Barstow Road.

Triumph wants to build a $135 million to $140 million pork plant at the site.

If Triumph buys the 116-acre site from RiverStone Group Inc. of Moline, East Moline and Triumph have discussed increasing the site's assessed valuation from $50,000 to $2.7 million, assistant city administrator Rich Keehner said. Besides East Moline, there are 11 other taxing bodies.

He said they're working to increase the assessed valuation because Triumph wants to be a good neighbor and ensure everyone benefits.

"We're just trying to make this project lucrative for everyone," Mayor John Thodos said.

If aldermen approve the increased assessed valuation next year, and Triumph buys the land, the Carbon Cliff-Barstow School District's property tax revenue from that site could increase from $939 to $50,715 a year.

The calculations are based on the district's 2005 property tax rate and Rock Island County property assessment figures. The amount could change if the property tax rate changes.

United Township High School superintendent Barbara Suelter said she'd like to see it in writing, but if the district's tax revenue from the site increases from $336 to $18,148 a year, she'd be "very pleased."

Mr. Keehner said the site's increase in assessed valuation to $2.7 million would be fixed for 23 years, the life of the TIF district. He said municipalities can increase the property value, as long as the landowner agrees.

In a TIF district, taxing bodies continue to collect existing tax revenue, but any new revenue created by the development goes into a TIF fund to be used for public infrastructure or rebates to developers.

If it's completed, Mayor Thodos said the proposed 630,000-square-foot pork plant could generate $1.8 million a year for the TIF fund. Then, after the TIF expires in 23 years, the revenue would be divided among the taxing bodies, he said.

If aldermen approve the redevelopment agreement and other possible state incentives fall into place, the plant could open in 2009. It's expected to create up to 1,000 jobs.

James Minick, superintendent of the Carbon Cliff-Barstow School District, wasn't sure what positive or negative impacts a pork-processing plant could have on his district.

If new families are drawn to the area because of the project, and more students enrolled in district schools, the district could receive more state aid money, he said.

"If we have kids move in, then that's a good deal."

Property taxes could be …

What taxing bodies could get in property taxes

Note: Under the preliminary plan, if the 2005 property tax rate doesn't change and East Moline and Triumph officials increase the proposed site's assessed valuation to $2.7 million, taxing bodies could receive these amounts per year.

Taxing bodies

Carbon Cliff-Barstow School District 36 $50,715

United Township High School District 30 $18,148

Rock Island County $6,608

Black Hawk College District 503 $3,619

Hampton Township $1,667

Rock River Library District $1,350

Hampton Township Road & Bridge fund $1,343

Illini Ambulance $675

Metro Air Authority $675

Forest Preserve $628

Homeland Cemetery in Hampton Township $81

Total $85,509

*The Barstow Fire Protection District no longer would be on the property tax bill next year because East Moline annexed the land, according to assistant city administrator Rich Keehner.

Property taxes now

What taxing bodies receive in property taxes per year now with proposed site's assessed value of $50,000

Taxing bodies

Carbon Cliff-Barstow School District 36 $939

United Township High School District 30 $336

Rock Island County $122

Black Hawk College District 503 $67

Hampton Township $31

Rock River Library District $25

Hampton Township Road & Bridge fund $25

Illini Ambulance $13

Metro Air Authority $13

Forest Preserve $12

Homeland Cemetery in Hampton Township $2

Total $1,585

*The Barstow Fire Protection District no longer would be on the property tax bill next year because East Moline annexed the land, according to assistant city administrator Rich Keehner.

Protest meetings today

Progressive Action for the Common Good, a group opposed to the proposed plant, will hold meetings about hog confinement and the hog-processing industry at 10 a.m. today at the United Methodist Life Center, 2420 41st St.,, Moline; and 2 p.m. today at the Eldridge Public Library, 200 N. 6th Ave.

East Moline officials will have a public informational session about the proposed pork plant at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the main cafeteria of United Township High School, 1275 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline.

The city council meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. Aldermen will discuss a redevelopment agreement between East Moline and Triumph Foods at that time. If aldermen give preliminary approval to the agreement Monday night, they could give it final approval on the issue Dec. 19.