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Urban renewal agency adopts FY25–26 budget, tightens incentive rules and raises program cap
Summary
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget and amended its incentive-program guidelines to add conflict-of-interest language, require public‑benefit statements for larger projects and prepare to raise the program cap to $300,000.
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget and amended its incentive‑program guidelines during the May 20 meeting in The Dalles.
Staff presentation: Community development director Joshua Chandler told the board the budget committee reviewed and recommended the proposed FY25–26 budget on April 16 and that staff did not propose changes at the May meeting. The board adopted Resolution 25‑002 to adopt the FY25–26 budget and certify the request for maximum tax increment revenue to the county assessor.
Incentive‑program changes: Jacob Anderson, the agency’s new economic development officer, presented revisions to the urban renewal incentive program that the board had discussed at prior meetings and formalized by resolution. Key changes the board approved in Resolution 25‑003 include adding a conflict-of-interest clause, a requirement that projects with a total development cost over $100,000 include a public‑benefit statement to justify an ROI analysis, and clarifications separating development funding agreements from the program’s usual incentive process.
Staff said they will update the agency website and issue a notice of funding under the revised guidelines; Anderson told the board the agency expects multiple applications to follow quickly and that the cap increase (to $300,000) will make larger historic‑rehab and downtown projects more feasible. The board approved the guideline amendment by motion.
Why it matters: The adopted budget funds urban renewal activities in downtown The Dalles, and the revised incentive rules aim to increase transparency and require clearer public‑benefit justification on higher‑cost projects. The cap change is intended to accelerate eligible downtown investments.
Next steps: Staff will post the revised guidelines and issue a notice of funding. The agency manager and economic development officer said they expect an uptick in applications under the new rules and cap.
