Etna Green Forms Redevelopment Commission; Post Office to Talk Hours
Posted
Jordan Fouts-
ETNA GREEN – Town Council members are hoping enough residents come forward to fill the newly formed Economic Redevelopment Commission. The town can’t move forward on many economic issues without them. Councilmen voted to establish the five-member commission during their Tuesday meeting. Chief among those economic plans is the establishment of a Tax Increment Finance District, which they hope to have in place before new development moves in. The TIF is planned for the northeast part of town, possibly extending into the downtown commercial district. It would capture tax revenue in that area and earmark it for improvements there. Council also moved ahead on the formation of a Cumulative Capital Development Fund, a tax of up to five cents on every $100 of assessed property evaluation. The potential extra $5,500 a year would help the town save up for needs like street repairs. “The streets need repaired but there hasn’t been any money for them,” said Keith Claassen, council president. “Our obligation is to prepare for doing what we need to do; even if it might be distatestful, it’s what we need to do.” Councilman Jim Robbins said he fully supports the fund, noting that Etna Green often doesn’t have money to spend on projects that must be done. They’ve been very proactive on finding ways to fund utilities projects, he observed, and now it’s time to do the same for needs like streets. “The problem is, we’ve gone too many years without saying yes, it does cost something to run a town,” he remarked. Before the new tax could take effect, the town must publish a notice to taxpayers and hold a public hearing. It must also be approved by the state Department of Local Government Finance. The town wouldn’t begin seeing the money till 2015, Claassen noted. Council also heard that the Etna Green Post Office plans a meeting April 10 to discuss what hours it will be open. Claassen suggested the town make the park building available for the 1 p.m. meeting, and council agreed. And they heard that, according to the year-end report from accounting firm Umbaugh and Associates, utilities rates are adequate and fund balances can be expected to be maintained for the next five years. They will receive another report in July.
