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Unit 5 Reaches Settlement With Young America Over Property Taxes

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The Willow Trails student apartments on Willow Street were included in the agreement approved Wednesday night.

The Unit 5 school board accepted a settlement Wednesday to resolve a long-running property tax dispute with Young America.

Young America is one of the area's largest student apartment companies. Unit 5 reached a similar agreement with First Site earlier this fall.

Unit 5 Attorney Curt Richardson said the district will get an extra $141,000 because of the Young America agreement, and $15,000 from First Site.

"When we lose revenue that means a higher class size, that means loss of teachers," Richardson said. "The higher values that were established would not have been possible without us taking on that mantle."

The newly assessed value of Young America's rental properties will remain unchanged for five years. Richardson said the district intervened in Young America's tax appeals to make sure tax burdens are equally spread among taxpayers.

Young America filed more than 80 complaints to the Property Tax Appeal Board in an attempt to lower its taxes.

"On advice of our counsel in this matter, we need to refrain from comment," Young America general manager Andy Netzer said in an email Thursday.

Young Student Outbursts

Meanwhile, the Unit 5 superintendent said mental health among elementary schoolers is a growing problem.

Mark Daniel said aggressiveness, rage and going out of control can affect an entire school environment even if only two or three children per building have troubles. Daniel said the district is low on funds for behavioral interventions.

Daniel said he’s talking with District 87 about sharing expenses for intervention and mental health services for these children. He said this is a growing problem nationwide in the last five years and it cuts across economic and ethnic boundaries. He said families must work with their schools to pinpoint what resources children need to improve behavior.

Hear more from Daniel during GLT's Sound Ideas on Thursday at noon and 6 p.m.

WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.

Baylee Steelman joined us in November 2016. She is a journalism major graduating in May 2018. She mainly covers Bloomington City and Normal Town Council meetings, Unit 5 School Board meetings, produces the weekend News In Review, and helps run GLT events. Baylee also produces and anchors at TV-10, Illinois State University's student TV news station.
Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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