Wood County commissioners hold second hearing on Alva Arena Economic Development Plan
August 22, 2018
The Woods County commissioners held a second public hearing Monday morning on the proposed Alva Arena Economic Development Project Plan. Commissioners present were David Hamil, John Smiley and Randy McMurphy. Others present were County Clerk Shelley Reed and Woods County Economic Director Sonja Williams. Citizens Ronald Edwards, Todd Holder and Kat Lunn were there as well.
The purpose of the hearing was to provide information, including an analysis of potential positive or negative impacts, and answering questions regarding the proposed Alva Arena plan.
Local tax accountant Ron Edwards took the floor for several minutes to express his concerns related to the TIF district and the arena. Edwards prefaced his remarks with stating that he is not against the arena itself, but is concerned about how it is to be taxed. He proposed the county commissioners table this project until they have had sufficient time to comb through this issue. He proceeded to ask for more documents, especially with details about the formulas being used to divide up the tax information. Edwards felt it would be too complex, and would require other accountants to be hired on to examine the information further.
Williams replied to Edwards saying the documents he is asking for are online and have been since June. You may find it on alvaok.org on the home page, entitled Financial Impacts Report Project Plan.
Edwards proceeded to share a sort of play-on-words brain teaser with the attendees. He verbally explained the joke saying, “You have 36 sheep and one dies, how many do you have?” Everyone agreed that you would have 35 sheep, with one dead one. He then pulled out a card with the joke written down and asked Williams to read it. It said, “You have 30 SICK sheep, and one dies, how many do you have?” He went on to explain that the average Joe wouldn't always notice the difference on this play on words, and especially for people like himself, who is hard of hearing, written documentation is important.
Chairman McMurphy replied that the documents have been available to the general public, and that there is also a committee including Holder that has gone over this proposed economic development plan for months to ensure that the choices made are made wisely. Holder asked Edwards if he believes that this committee or the Arena Authority are attempting to 'pull the wool' over the eye of the citizens of Woods County. Edwards affirmed this, saying “yes, I think it is a deception.”
Holder also asked if Edwards believes a TIF district increases public debt? Edwards said yes, because he believes it will raise taxes.
Holder then emphasized that a TIF district will never create debt. It does not create new debt or encumber old debt. Debt is not a factor in a TIF district. Really, a TIF district allows municipalities to promote economic development by earmarking property tax revenue from increases in assessed values within a designated TIF district.
McMurphy said Woods County already has a very successful TIF district in the area: the Avard Industrial Rail Park. It is the only source of economic development in that area. McMurphy said, “I'm glad we have it [Avard] and it has been no detriment to us.”
Williams went on to assure Edwards that this project has been heavily scrutinized by many people. The treasurer's office, the assessor's office, the public school districts, Northwest Technology, and the county have all met with the lawyers, their own attorneys, and other experts in this area have “given it
their blessings”.
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