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Council approves 30-year PILOT for Project Red (Bomag expansion); Project Mega Cable taken up for first reading
Summary
Fairfield County Council approved a 30‑year fee‑in‑lieu (PILOT) agreement and land purchase for Project Red — identified in the meeting as Bomag Americas Inc. and Fiat Distribution Center LLC — after staff presented projected investment and jobs figures and the council approved a motion substituting the project name.
At third and final reading the council adopted an ordinance authorizing a fee‑in‑lieu of ad valorem taxes and related purchase and sale agreements for an economic-development project described in the ordinance as Project Red. During the meeting a council member moved to amend the ordinance and substitute the name “Bomag Americas Inc and Fiat Distribution Center LLC” as the specific economic development project; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Economic development staff summarized Project Red as a three‑phase expansion by an existing county manufacturer located at Parcel 7 in Fairfield Commerce Center. Staff said the project represents a capital investment of $13.7 million, which includes approximately $1.0 million in machining and equipment and roughly $12.7 million in land and building; the expansion was projected to create 75 new jobs within three years with an average wage reported at $31 per hour. Staff reported an estimated annual payroll of about $4.8 million and presented a cost‑benefit analysis claiming an estimated 15‑year economic benefit of $98,286,531 and cumulative net public revenue of $708,746 (staff-calculated return of approximately $1.19 in public revenue for every $1 of public cost over the modeled period).
The agreement includes a 30‑year fee in lieu provision with a fixed millage rate, a 1% multi‑county park designation, and a 50% special‑source revenue credit over a 10‑year period; staff also described infrastructure credits and a purchase and sale agreement tied to the county property used for the expansion. After questions from council, the ordinance as amended was approved by recorded voice vote, 7‑0.
Separately, council held first reading by title only on an ordinance authorizing execution and delivery of a fee‑in‑lieu and incentive agreement with Project Mega Cable (ordinance number 843) and approved that title‑only first reading by voice vote, 7‑0. No public comments were registered on either project during the public hearing portion.
Administrator Michael Carpenter and economic development staff answered council questions on project specifics, and staff emphasized the presented cost‑benefit and job projections. No council member requested further delay; the Project Red ordinance passed on final reading 7‑0 following the amendment that substituted the project’s legal names.
