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Paola asks Miami County to renew interlocal agreement for Neighborhood Revitalization Plan; city says no changes proposed
Summary
Paola city officials asked Miami County to renew the city’s expired interlocal agreement for the Paola Neighborhood Revitalization Plan so ongoing applications remain eligible; the city manager said the plan’s 10-year tax-rebate structure and classifications remain unchanged and the city will seek county and school-district signatories.
Paola city officials asked the Miami County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 3 to renew the interlocal agreement that underlies the Paola Neighborhood Revitalization Plan so property owners with pending applications remain eligible for tax rebates. Randy Shannon, Paola city manager, told commissioners the city is not proposing changes to the plan; the request is to renew the interlocal agreement after staff discovered it had expired.
Shannon said the neighborhood revitalization district covers roughly the older downtown quadrant (the square and adjacent blocks), includes nearly 500 residences and both commercial and industrial properties, and serves as an economic development incentive for property upgrades. "There are almost 500 residences in this district that can utilize it as well," Shannon said, adding that the mechanism is intended "to help stabilize the property tax issues, to allow them to upgrade their properties." He said the city council has approved the renewal and that the school district will be asked to sign next week.
Shannon and Mitch Gabbard, Paola zoning administrator, summarized how the rebate classifications work: classification 1 and 2 provide rebates of 90% and 80% respectively for years 1–3 on qualifying investments; classification 3 (used mainly for commercial and larger investments) can offer a 100% rebate for years 1–5. The plan is a 10-year program; applications must be filed before building permits are issued and the county appraiser determines classification and rebate amounts. Shannon said the county appraiser's office had been helpful and will provide a report on recent program usage.
Commissioners asked about geographic boundaries, whether rental properties qualify, the program’s historic utilization and whether a multi-entity review board would be restored. Shannon said rental properties can qualify if the owner applies, that the program complies with state statute requirements and that he expects staff training to restore regular review procedures that had lapsed due to employee turnover. He said staff will supply a report of recent participants and that the city is interested in potentially expanding the district in the future, but is not asking for any expansion now.
No formal county vote was recorded at the study session; city staff requested that the county clerk add the renewal to an upcoming agenda so the commission can act.
