Pittsfield makes disbursements from TIF accounts
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By BETH ZUMWALT
The Pittsfield City Council voted to pay Pikeland Unit 10 approximately $85,000 and the remaining taxing districts in the city will split $16,000. The decision was reached at the Feb. 21 meeting.
“When the city’s two Tax Increment Financing(TIF) districts were established, the city agreed to reimburse Pikeland for any lost revenues,” Gary Mendenhall, mayor, said. “And any suplus money would go to the other taxing districts, Pittsfield Township, Newburg Township, John Wood, etc.”
TIF allows local governments to invest in public infrastructure and other improvements up-front. Local governments can then pay later for those investments. They can do so by capturing the future anticipated increase in tax revenues generated by the project. Tax rates are frozen for every taxing entity so any improvements that generate a tax increase will go to the TIF. For example, a vacant lot in Pittsfield is taxed at a set rate. A developer puts an improvement on the lot. The taxing bodies still collect the tax on the lot, but the city will collect the taxes generated by the improvement. That money can be used to improve infrastructure to accommodate the improvement, sewer, water lines, roads, sidewalks, etc. When Pittsfield set up their two TIF districts, the council at that time, agreed to pay Pikeland Unit 10, the money they would miss out on due to the TIF.
The council also approved two zoning variances.
The council approved plans by Christina Butler to build a porch on the front and a deck on the back of property at 838 W. Adams. The front porch will leave a yard of 10 feet instead of the required 20 feet and the deck will leave a yard of five feet instead of the required 10 feet. The council approved the variance.
Also accepted was a plan of Harrison Lane to place three mobile homes on a lot at 178 E. Kellogg Street. One of the trailers will have a rear yard of eight feet instead of the required 25 feet.
In other action: The city negotiated the transfer of City Police Officer, Stephen Watkins to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. The city had paid for Watkins to go to the training academy and the county will reimburse the city for part of that expense. To replace Watkins, the city hired Clint Weir, who will be the school resource officer, replacing Mitchell Barton, who will return to patrol duties.
In other action:
• Accepted a bid from Max Edlin to do erosion control at the airport at cost of $25,900.
• Agreed to change the employee handbook to allow employees to carry over 30 vacation days instead of the current 10.
• Announced the city-wide clean-up dates are April 22-29.
• The story book paths along the walking trail at King Park are in place.
• Learned the dog park will remain closed until sometime in March to allow time for grass to grow.
