City selects commission members with secret vote
read more recent story comments Reader comments| rstanhouse Tuesday, May 18, 2010: 11:04 pm More from rstanhouse  | Congratulations to the City of Martinsville on creating a RDC and naming its initial representatives. This is an important economic development tool for the city and the downtown and a good step toward creating a better place for its residents. Let's keep stepping forward. |
| A Hoosier Tuesday, May 18, 2010: 11:23 pm More from A Hoosier | TIF = new tax? |
| A Hoosier Tuesday, May 18, 2010: 11:36 pm More from A Hoosier | Cities and counties borrow money (bond) against anticipated future property taxes within a TIF area, and the money borrowed can be used for any "infrastructure" project. There are virtually no limits on what can be considered "infrastructure." In effect, designating the area as a TIF allows the city or county to target property taxes collected in the area to pay back the debt. In theory, the value of the property in the area will go up ("increment") and the city or county will be able to collect additional taxes to pay off the debt. However, since the taxes collected will not go to government agencies or schools outside the TIF, even as they are expected to provide services to people and businesses inside the TIF, either these departments must accept less property tax money or raise taxes in non-TIF areas. Some, however, consider the TIF strategy to be a political manoeuvre allowing development projects to take place without the explicit approval or disapproval of elected officials (1). TIF designation, as well as the borrowing of money for the TIF and the determination of how, and where, that money will be spent is given to a five-member redevelopment commission. Members of redevelopment commissions are not elected, but have both executive and fiscal decision-making powers. Background Originally implemented in California, during the mid-1950s, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was seen as a way of revitalizing and redeveloping inner-city brownfields. By guaranteeing that any new taxes collected in the area (called a Tax Increment District, or TID) could only be spent within the TID, TIF was hoped to be an incentive to private redevelopment of blighted land. Today, the strategy of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is used by thousands of cities around the country as a loophole to state-imposed property tax caps. There are more than 100 TIF districts in Indiana, more than all but three other states. In Indiana, the overwhelming use of TIF financing is not the original intention of redevelopment of blighted urban areas, but the conversion of suburban "greenfields" into retail shopping. 70% of TIF districts in Indiana are used for suburban retail development (2). |
| A Hoosier Tuesday, May 18, 2010: 11:40 pm More from A Hoosier | Sounds like a great idea. Let's increase taxes on folks, who are currently struggling to get by. Then let's build shopping centers, in a recession, that folks can not afford to shop in. Goodness, politicians are a handful. |
| A Hoosier Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 12:52 am More from A Hoosier | The point to remember is that what the government gives it must first take away. John S. Coleman Economic growth without social progress lets the great majority of the people remain in poverty, while a privileged few reap the benefits of rising abundance. John F. Kennedy |
| A Hoosier Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 11:02 am More from A Hoosier | Correction: Cities and counties borrow money (bond) against anticipated future property taxes within a TIF area, and the money borrowed can be used for any "infrastructure" project. There are virtually no limits on what can be considered "infrastructure." In effect, designating the area as a TIF allows the city or county to target property taxes collected in the area to pay back the debt. In theory, the value of the property in the area will go up ("increment") and the city or county will be able to collect additional taxes to pay off the debt. However, since the taxes collected will not go to government agencies or schools outside the TIF, even as they are expected to provide services to people and businesses inside the TIF, either these departments must accept less property tax money or raise taxes in non-TIF areas. Some, however, consider the TIF strategy to be a political manoeuvre allowing development projects to take place without the explicit approval or disapproval of elected officials (1). TIF designation, as well as the borrowing of money for the TIF and the determination of how, and where, that money will be spent is given to a five-member redevelopment commission. Members of redevelopment commissions are not elected, but have both executive and fiscal decision-making powers. Background Originally implemented in California, during the mid-1950s, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was seen as a way of revitalizing and redeveloping inner-city brownfields. By guaranteeing that any new taxes collected in the area (called a Tax Increment District, or TID) could only be spent within the TID, TIF was hoped to be an incentive to private redevelopment of blighted land. Today, the strategy of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is used by thousands of cities around the country as a loophole to state-imposed property tax caps. There are more than 100 TIF districts in Indiana, more than all but three other states. In Indiana, the overwhelming use of TIF financing is not the original intention of redevelopment of blighted urban areas, but the conversion of suburban "greenfields" into retail shopping. 70% of TIF districts in Indiana are used for suburban retail development (2). Please read more. |
| Liberty Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 12:00 pm More from Liberty | Thanks REPORTER -TIMES for Catching the the corruption of the Mayor the Martinsville Common Council. Now is this for the Clerks office or the local Prosecutor to review ? |
| A Hoosier Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 12:04 pm More from A Hoosier | Still laughing. Liberty, LOL. |
| A Hoosier Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 12:06 pm More from A Hoosier | You know, Liberty. With Kenny Costin on the commission, I see a new senior housing project in our future. Read quickly....this post could soon be deleted. |
| concerned resident Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 12:42 pm More from concerned resident | Liberty, what in the world would the Clerk or Prosecutor have to do with this? Prosecutor pursues a criminal offense. Just because it's a violation of statute does not necessarily mean it is criminal, as an abundance of laws are administrative in nature. Contact the Public Access Counselor and file a formal complaint. If ruled a violation, then any actions taken or decisions made by this board could be declared null. |
| Liberty Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 3:43 pm More from Liberty |
Thanks Concerned, I guess you answer is neither. I found the law and read the remedies at : http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/2004/title5/ar14/ch1.5.html This obviously in this position they know the rules. Will this intentional crime go unchecked ? To snub of the Law for any reason makes this corruption in office and ongoing saga? Martinsville with it's Police Force, Politicians, School Superintendent, could sure stand some cleaning up. It's too beautiful of a town with such nice people to put up with the corruption any longer. Seems everyone is comfortable with allowing them to set this corruption as an example for the children who are watching. Only God knows how to deal with it. It's just so disappointing sometimes. Seems we have some good people that get into office and then become one of the same old boyz. . |
| concerned resident Wednesday, May 19, 2010: 9:45 pm More from concerned resident | Liberty wrote: Only God knows how to deal with it. It's just so disappointing sometimes. Seems we have some good people that get into office and then become one of the same old boyz. City elections are next year. That's one way to deal with it. And continue to call them on the carpet when things like this happen. |
| 44 comments found | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next |
Add a comment
Posting comments on this web site requires you to be logged in. • Create your account• Log in to your account
» more
TABLE OF CONTENTS »
NEWS
Today
Obituaries
Local
Police
Court news
Weather
Business
Property transfers
Area salaries & stats
Education
State
Nation/World
Photo galleries
Videos
SPORTS
Sports
MD-T sports
IU sports blog
Martinsville
Mooresville
Decatur Central
Eminence
Indian Creek
Monrovia
Tabernacle Christian
Fantasy racing league
BLOGS
All blogs
Quit Smoking...Do It
Sci-Fi Sojourns
The Hoosier Scoop
Hoosier Wine Cellar
Gaming Guru
Mellenblog
