‌Dogs can do what Staying fit is possible rain, snow, gloom while on vacation A9 of night cannot A3 Moline swimmer still chasing Olympic dream B1

MOLINE, ILLINOIS Tuesday, August 13, 2019 | QCOnline.com | $2.00 Q-C POPULATION: PART 5 Green cards focus of rule Immigrants who receive aid are target of change

COLLEEN LONG AND JILL COLVIN Associated Press‌

‌WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Mon- day it is moving forward with one of its most aggressive steps yet to restrict legal immigration: Denying green cards to many migrants who use Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers or other forms of public assistance. GARY KRAMBECK PHOTOS/[email protected] Federal law already requires Bettendorf’s northeast expansion abuts farm fields. The city is on pace to be larger than Rock Island by 2021. those seeking to become per- manent residents or gain legal status to prove they will not be a burden to the U.S. — a “public charge,” in government speak — but the new rules detail a broader range of programs that could dis- Quad-Cities growing qualify them. It’s part of a dramatic over- haul of the nation’s immigration system that the administration has been working to put in place, despite legal pushback. While most attention has focused on President Donald Trump’s ef- in unequal fashion forts to crack down on illegal im- migration, including recent raids in Mississippi and the continued Bettendorf on Q-C Population separation of migrant parents pace to be larger Trends from their children, the new than RI by 2021 This story is the fifth in a series See RULES, Page A2 about population loss in the GRAHAM AMBROSE Quad-Cities area.‌ • On A8: Government changing [email protected] Endangered Species Act against each other and low-ball ‌Which city has more people: each other,” said Luis Moreno, a Rock Island or Bettendorf, Iowa? former alderman in East Moline The answer is Rock Island. — It and current member of the Rock has always been bigger. In 1950, Island County Board. “On the Illi- Rock Island had almost 10 times nois side, we’re constantly doing UnityPoint as many residents as Bettendorf. that. We’re constantly low-ball- But times have changed. If cur- ing one another to get companies rent trends hold, Bettendorf will to come to our municipality.” selects become the second-largest of the But bi-state leaders push back region’s five core cities within a on the idea that taxation ham- generation and is on pace to pass Zach Keller, 6, Zeke Keller, 10, both of Davenport, and Elaine Eckman, pers the Illinois side. The dif- CEO for the city of Rock Island by 2021. 2, of Moline, take their time selecting a doughnut at Hurts Donuts, at ferences between the states are Bettendorf is in a geograph- 5121 Competition Drive, Bettendorf. Hurts is one of the popular new marginal, said Paul Rumler, CEO, ically privileged position with businesses taking advantage of population growth in the northeast and president of the Quad Cities Trinity RI room to grow. Whereas, on the Chamber of Commerce. section of the city. Illinois side of the river, Rock “You have to look at all of the MATT ENRIGHT Island, Moline and East Moline blame for the diverging counties $4,000 in property taxes. The tax burdens, on the collective [email protected]‌ are landlocked with shrinking gets pinned most often on taxes. same home in Rock Island level. When you do that, the dis- populations. “I talk to people, and they’re County could pay more than parity is not great,” Rumler said. ‌UnityPoint Health-Trinity has “We’re blessed to have that fed up with the taxes,” said Ed- $6,900, according to data from “Perception becomes reality.” found a new CEO. ability to grow and expand,” win Langdon Jr., a member of the Rock Island County Trea- Robert J. Erickson, former said Jeff Reiter, economic devel- the Rock Island County Board, surer’s Office, the Scott County MORE LAND, MORE PEOPLE‌ president of Presence Saint Jo- opment director for the city of expressing a popular sentiment. Property Tax Calculator and the A major reason for the diverg- seph Medical Center in Joilet, Bettendorf. “Instead of turning Iowa and Illinois tax residents financial technology company ing growth has less to do with will begin his tenure as Unity- a blind eye to growth and devel- differently. According to analyses SmartAsset. taxes than with real estate. Point-Trinity CEO on Sept. 23. opment, we’re proactively plan- by the nonpartisan Tax Founda- Still, Illinois leaders downplay In Scott County, there’s am- “Bob is an outstanding leader ning for the future. We’re not tion, Illinois income taxes tend the differences or emphasize ple land available for develop- who knows and only looking at the next five to to be lower, while property and other advantages. ment. By contrast, Rock Island understands our 10 years but the next 15 to 50.” sales taxes tend to be higher. “It benefits seniors to be here,” County’s population centers are mission and how Quad-Citians offer numerous In Iowa, the reverse tends to be East Moline Mayor Reggie Free- mostly developed, and their hous- important our ex- explanations for the growing true, though many exceptions ex- man said. “In Illinois, you don’t ing stock is older. ceptional health gap between Rock Island County, ist in both states. pay income tax on your pensions. “From a development stand- care services which is losing residents, and According to a Tax Foundation In Iowa you do.” point, it’s cheaper to plow into a are to our com- Scott County, which is growing. analysis from last year, Illinois Sales tax schemes differ be- cornfield than to buy properties munity. I’m con- As data from the U.S. Census ranked 13th — out of 50 states, tween the states, which some and remodel them,” Angie Nor- fident he is the Bureau shows, the gap is princi- with 50 being highest — in indi- leaders have bemoaned. In Iowa, moyle, a member of the Rock right person to Erickson pally a result of out-migration — vidual income taxes, and 45th on a sales tax is county-wide and Island County Board, said. lead UnityPoint people moving away from Illinois property taxes. Iowa, by contrast, shared evenly by municipalities. Or, as Freeman said, “It’s eas- Health – Trinity during this time — and not falling birth rates. ranked 42nd on income taxes and In Illinois, each municipality is ier to move cornfields than it is of change in health care,” Unity- So what’s causing the exodus? 39th on property taxes. responsible for its own sales to move trees.” Point Health-Trinity Board of Di- But even small differences in taxes, which can be adjusted by To grow, Moline and Rock rectors Chair Janet Sichterman TAXES — PERCEPTION VS. property tax rates can yield sub- home-rule towns without a refer- Island might have to consider said in a release. REALITY‌ stantial differences in payment. endum, Freeman said. A home valued at $250,000 in “That’s a difference that On both sides of the river, the Scott County could pay around helps the Iowa side not compete See POPULATION, Page A2 See CEO, Page A2

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