It didn’t seem like an intrusive question to me, but when I asked an inconspicuously dressed gentleman at the League of Women Voters candidate forum why he was passing out anti- tax increment financing fliers, he told me he wasn’t allowed to say.
Does that seem odd to you?
It certainly seemed odd to me. So, naturally I asked why not. Again: “I can’t say,” he said. Still wondering, I pressed further into who asked him to hand out the fliers because he claimed ignorance on every topic… but he was certainly sorry that he couldn’t answer any questions.
Maybe I’m out of the loop, but I wasn’t aware that tax increment financing was such a hot issue that folks would go so far as clandestinely papering League of Women Voter events.
What are the thoughts on this? The flier is posted below if you would like to take a look at it yourself.
The language throughout the flier is negatively connoted to portray tax increment financing negatively. Is this a common opinion?
Filed under: City Government, TIF, Uncategorized
Pat,
You said: “Maybe I’m out of the loop, but I wasn’t aware that tax increment financing was such a hot issue that folks would go so far as clandestinely papering League of Women Voter events.”
I think it is a big issue. I’ve been covering TIF exclusively for the Missourian, and it should be given a lot of consideration and thought by the Tax Increment Financing Commission as well as by community members.
The two development projects are asking for a total of $5.1 million. If both projects are approved, they’re essentially taking $5.1 million in property taxes that would be slated for the city, the school district and library, under normal circumstances.
That said, one of the biggest qualifications the city requires for a project to qualify for TIF is the “but-for” test, which says if a development company could afford to complete the project without TIF, they don’t qualify. In other words, but for the help of tax-increment financing, the project couldn’t be completed.
TIF is a commonly used tax incentive to spark development in areas of blight or in areas in need of conservation, and it’s not surprising that Columbia City Council approved the use of TIF downtown, but I don’t think it’s weird or odd for someone to question whether its a good idea. It is a controversial issue.
By the tone of the flier, it sounds to me like its author feels like the two projects don’t pass the “but-for” test, which is a legitimate concern from the public regarding every TIF application to come before the TIF Commission. I think that’s one of the reasons the TIF Commission is holding several work sessions to go over each application.
It sounds to me like you are more than qualified to be a member of the TIF commission. I had read pretty much all of your stories on the matter and it is pretty clear that it’s controversial. Like you said, when potential money is diverted away from public schools and the like, people get interested.
I just wasn’t aware that is was SO controversial as to merit staying hidden behind a flier to express your opinions. It seems that folks are more than willing to speak out for or against the use of TIF, so why would this person choose to remain anonymous and go so far as to tell the gentleman handing out the fliers that he can’t reveal his identity?
cool pat, cool