DEBT ISSUANCE
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Ehlers recognizes that elected officials and staff want clear answers to key questions regarding debt issuance. Those questions include: What are the various options to financing projects and needs? How can we be assured that the bonds are being sold at the lowest cost to our taxpayers? What is the full cost of issuing bonds including interest rates, issuance costs, and underwriter fees? How do we know when a bond issue should be negotiated instead of competitively bid?

Ehlers' bonds services are designed to make sure that you have confidence that your debt will be issued at the lowest cost to your taxpayers. Before issuing bonds, our experienced financial advisors "roll up their sleeves" and assist you with planning - understanding your needs, exploring all available options, addressing all your questions, and developing a plan tailored to your needs.

Glenview Park District - Click to view the case study

Carbon Cliff, Illinois - Click to view the case study

SCHOOL FINANCE
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School district officials today face a variety of financial challenges and questions as they plan for the future. How can we project future enrollment? How can we best develop a financial plan to ensure that there are sufficient classrooms and capital and operating revenue to meet our needs? Ehlers offers a variety of specialized school services to address school officials' questions and enable them to plan for the future. These are in addition to our debt issuance, strategic and financial planning, and public participation management services.

STRATEGIC AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
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A major responsibility of community and school district officials is to plan for the future. However, it's hard to find the time and resources to undertake the necessary financial and strategic planning because of day-to-day responsibilities. Sustaining the long-term viability of a community or a school district requires disciplined application of long-term strategies. Ehlers helps you develop a practical strategic plan and financial strategies. It will give you obtainable goals and a step-by-step process to guide you in achieving them.

Village of North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin - Click to view the case study

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
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Gaining public support for important financial and community decisions is becoming increasingly difficult. The traditional approach of developing a recommended solution and presenting it to the public for "buy-in" no longer works. Communities and school districts are finding that including the public earlier in the planning process provides a better result and increases the community support for the final solution. Ehlers has developed a successful and disciplined public participation process and has extensive experience in helping communities achieve public support.

St. Anthony, Minnesota - Click to view the case study

DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT SERVICES
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Developing an adequate tax base to support the community and ensuring the community remains vital is a central mission of elected officials. Development and redevelopment provide the foundation of not only the community's tax base but also establishes the character of the community. Ehlers is experienced in helping communities successfully achieve their economic development and redevelopment goals.

Ehlers' comprehensive services take you from needs to results. We evaluate the fiscal impacts of new development and redevelopment, assist with establishment of TIF districts, facilitate the development/ redevelopment process, identify and evaluate developers and development proposals, conduct developer negotiations and evaluate developer requests for assistance.

Lemont, Illinois - Click to view the case study

Sugar Grove, Illinois - Click to view the case study

Countryside, Illinois - Click to view the case study

TAX INCREMENT SERVICES
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Tax Increment Financing and Business Development District formation have become essential tools for community redevelopment. Ehlers services include preparing plans that will help achieve your community goals and provide flexibility to meet development needs as well as assisting your community in developer negotiations and project financing.

Tinley Park, Illinois - Click to view the case study