Councilman Jack Messer agreed with Malysz that Coyle Dodge should be in a TIF District regardless of it's future use. It gives us money NO matter which way we go he said."
Does Mr. Messer think that TIF is a "pie in the sky" balloon filled with "thousand dollar bills?"
If Coyle Building is bought by the city, then NO property taxes will be collected and Mr. Messer's balloon will be empty!
We had to laugh...this is the same guy [Messer] who plans to run for Mayor against England in 2011!
Should they be called "Dumb and Dumber?
The current economy is too shaky to have expanded TIF areas.
Let alone thinking of float any more TIF Bonds. If more New Albany TIF Bonds are issued, the debt payment could fall on the backs of the property taxpayers.
Have you ever heard the ole saying "Buyer Beware"...don't buy Councilman Messer's and Mr. Director of Development "crap" taxpayers.
They are laying the ground work for more bonds!
Does this surprise you?
Malysz has stated in the past, "I think it's a false conclusion to say that TIF districts cause any fiscal harm to the taxpayers."
Boy, you sure haven't done your homework Mr. Director of Development
You need to pick up the phone and call the following people because we did:
* Charlie Pride: 317-232-2521 State Board of Accounts
* Gail Snyder: 317-407-2433 Indiana Department of Local Government for Floyd County
Where is this guy coming from?
We're actually paying him about $93,000 for these misleading statements and bad decisions?
Good grief?
Let's cut to the chase...shall we?
Malysz, let's give the taxpayers and our Council members some truth for a change.
Malysz has stated that there are 5 TIF sections in the city. We count 10 TIF Districts, not 5.
1. Downtown TIF
2. State Street Area TIF
3. Grantline Road TIF
4. Park East TIF
5. Charlestown Road TIF
6. Add on to State Street TIF
7. Add on to Grantline TIF
8. Add on to Downtown TIF
9. Main Street - Scribner Place TIF
10. Monon Corridor TIF on Grantline Road
Are we correct Mr. Director of Development?
Let us educate you on TIF's:
Tax Increment Financing [TIF] is an area with designated boundaries [like a circle] drawn on a city map and labeled as a TIF area. The taxes in that TIF area are frozen at the time the TIF area is approved. The current property taxes continue to go into the City General Fund and to the other entities [Schools, County Government and Library].
As new development is made on that plot of ground, those "new taxes do not go into the City General Fund" or to other entities [NA-FC Schools, Floyd County Government and NA-FC Library].
All those new taxes on the "new development go into an account for that TIF are only" for use in the TIF area for improvements such as roads and sewers.
That new money does not go to our City General Fund.
The need for extra Police and Fire Protection is increased, but new additional money does not come out of the TIF district. So the City Council has to find other ways to pay for all the extra services needed in those TIF areas including .
This may need to be done by cutting back on all departments throughout the city.
The burden of paying for the additional services is shifted to the other taxpayers!
With too many TIF areas, the who city could suffer because services are spread to thin and there is not enough money to sustain them. The "new tax money is gone" that could have been used for New Albany's General Fund Services.
Source: Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
Freedom Of Speech would like to say:
* All Developers should pay for the Public Improvements they need to construct their own projects.
What Messer, Malysz and Mayor England don't get is this:
"The State Street Parking Garage TIF Fund still owes our EDIT Fund $3.6 million. If this $3.6 million was repaid to EDIT, those FUNDS could be used for Stormwater repairs and Sewer repairs and solve our overflow and flooding problems."
"Sewer repairs and Stormwater problems should be Messer's, Maylsz and England's No. 1 priority!"
We are NOT against growth.
What we property owners. don't understand is why we are being lied too.
Why can't Messer, Malysz and England look the citizens in the eye and tell them TIF's affect property taxes. New tax dollars collected in TIF Districts are restricted and are NOT used to help hold down property tax rate.
Tax abatement's also affect property taxes but most of all local government spending affects our property tax bills.
Should TIF's be considered Corporate Welfare?
Should Developers pay for the needed infrastructure, themselves?
"Absolutely!!!!"
The bottom line is this, who are you going to believe property owners: Indiana Department of Local Government Finance or Mayoral candidate Messer, and the England administration on TIF's?
Our final question is this:
Governor Daniels stated he has to cut $3 million from the School Budget. Recently it was reported to be $6.6 million in cuts for Floyd County Schools.
If the TIF Districts are affecting our City General Fund, then, Schools and Libraries will be affected.
Will we have to close some schools?
