Published on January 30, 2026 3:30 pm
Last Updated on January 30, 2026 3:30 pm
The annual meetings of Effingham’s Tax Increment Financing District Boards were held this week.
The Boards involve representatives of the taxing bodies included in the respective TIF districts.
The TIF #1 board involves Douglas Township, Effingham Park District, Lake Land College, Effingham County, Effingham City, Summit Township, Unit 40 School District, and a member representing the general public. Local realtor Alex Steppe was elected as the public member of the board. Park Board member Russ Sehy was chosen chairperson, while Mayor Mike Schutzbach was chosen vice-chair.
The Central Area TIF board includes Douglas Township, Lake Land College, Effingham County, Effingham City, Effingham Park District, and Unit 40 School District, along with a public member, with Steppe again chosen to fill that post. Doris Reynolds of the Lake Land College Board of Trustees was chosen chairperson, while JoAnn Jansen of the Douglas Township Board was chosen as vice-chair.
The Outer Belt West TIF board includes Douglas Township, Lake Land College, Effingham County, Effingham City, Effingham Park District, and Unit 40 School District. Michael Janis of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital and Hospital Sisters Health System was chosen the public member. Janis was also elected to chair the board, while Jansen was chosen the vice-chair.
The South-Central Industrial TIF board includes Douglas Township, Lake Land College, Effingham County, Effingham City, Effingham Park District, and Unit 40 School District. Janis was chosen as the public member. Sehy was chosen the board chairman, while Reynolds was chosen the vice-chair.
