The Greene County supervisors jumped aboard the high school/regional career academy project Thursday morning with a commitment of $5 million. The supervisors plan to move forward with tax increment financing (TIF) to fund the project.
The agenda item was posted as “resolution in support of the proposed Greene County career academy project.” That wording was written by attorney Nathan Overberg of Ahlers & Cooney, the law firm hired by the supervisors Feb. 8 for urban renewal and economic development planning, a first step toward using TIF.
The supervisors said then that they had not made a decision to use TIF, but they wanted to get the process started. “The only thing we felt at that point we wanted to use TIF funds for would have been roads and bridges, board chair John Muir said Thursday about their decision just two weeks ago. “Then this was presented to us,” he said, referring to using TIF for the proposed career academy.
It was clear at the outset of the meeting that the supervisors would discuss “supporting” the project with significantly with funds coming from TIF. On many previous agendas a “resolution in support” has been an approved and signed document that demonstrated only support, not a commitment of funds.
The $5 million figure wasn’t stated until 18 minutes into the discussion. Nearly seven minutes into the discussion, Muir still wasn’t naming an amount. “This is a resolution of support, that we’re going to support the academy to a certain number,” Muir said.
According to the resolution the supervisors had all seen, the county will provide up to $5 million in funds to the Greene County Schools to be used only for construction of the career academy. The county and the school will enter into a 28E agreement setting the terms under which the school receives and uses the funds.
TIF can be used for the career academy because the academy is an economic development project, attorney Overberg has advised the board. TIF funds could not be used for construction of the proposed new high school because that isn’t an allowable use per the law.
Finalizing the TIF for the career academy is contingent on the April 3 bond referendum being successful. The process will include a public hearing.
Supervisor Mick Burkett said during the open forum portion of the meeting that he was concerned they were putting “the cart ahead of the horse.” During discussion of the agenda item, Burkett said he was concerned that their support would be seen as campaigning for the bond referendum. “Should we be campaigning for the school district?” he asked.
Muir said he wanted to be clear that his support is for the career academy, not the school.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph said that because the new high school and the career academy are “all rolled into one,” she could see how supporting one might look like support of the other. “Our vote is strictly on the career academy, and I look at the career academy as a way for economic development. We’ve got to be able to support the industry we have here by keeping people in those places employed, and if you can go straight to the workforce and not have a high student loan debt, you can spend that money for a house or something else and help our economy here in Greene County possibly,” she said.
Burkett stated again his desire to start TIF with a road or bridge project.
Supervisor Tom Contner joined the discussion via telephone. He asked several questions, particularly about the need to rush to a decision.
After Muir read the resolution, he asked for comments from the public. A dozen members of the Our Kids, Our Future – Greene County committee were present. Peg Raney and Bill Raney, co-chairs of the committee, spoke. Peg Raney encouraged the supervisors to approve the resolution “in order for our voters to really get a full picture of the support.”
Bill Raney said that as a former county supervisor he could appreciate the comments about using TIF for road, “but please, put the economic vitality of the county at the top of the list, and that’s what this academy will do for us. Roads are important, but our future vitality, our sustainability as a county – this is a pivotal moment for our future in our county.”
Perry Parker was the only person in the gallery to speak against tax increment financing. The property taxes generated by the wind turbines should go into the general fund, he said. “These windmills aren’t in an urban area. You’re taking rural money and putting it into an urban area,” Parker said. “I’m not against the regional academy… I’m just looking at the tax money that’s going to one specific thing in the county.”
Burkett said he had received six or seven calls from people sharing Parker’s concern.
After nearly an hour of discussion, Rudolph made and Peter Bardole seconded a motion to approve the resolution. On a roll call vote Bardole, Rudolph and Muir voted yes. Burkett abstained. Contner was the last to vote. “Oh mercy… aye. Yeah, aye, I guess,” was Contner’s vote.
The Our Kids, Our Future committee applauded the vote.
Burkett, when questioned about his abstention, first said it was pushed through too fast, and that he didn’t want to be flying a banner. He didn’t vote against it because “I’m not against it. I just don’t think we should have voted now,” he said.
Click here to read the full resolution in the meeting minutes.
