Finance Committee approves three TID project-plan amendments, reallocates funds for parks and small-business assistance

The Finance Committee convened Monday, March 20, 2025, and unanimously approved amendments to three tax-incremental district (TID) project plans affecting parks, small-business assistance and rental-development financing.

The amendments — Legistar 86995 (TID 36, Capital Gateway), Legistar 86996 (TID 44, Royster Clark) and Legistar 87015 (TID 51, South Madison) — were moved, seconded and recorded as unanimous votes during the meeting.

The amendments matter because they change how TIF (tax increment financing) dollars will be allocated across several neighborhood projects and programs, including a turf replacement at a public ballfield, lighting near a tiny-home development, and a set-aside for rental-development financial assistance that will be tied to a specific apartment project.

On Legistar 86995 (TID 36, Capital Gateway), Alder Rummel moved adoption and discussion focused on Bruce Stevens Field. CJ, parks staff, told the committee the amendment would fund removal of the current turf and installation of a new field; she said the replacement could include some maintenance equipment but would be “focused just on that project.” CJ added the city intends to maintain its partnership with the field operator, Big Top, for “at least another 5 years or so.” Rummel asked that one phrase in the fiscal note — language referencing legislative file 82711 (perens res-24-0357) — be removed because it had caused confusion among constituents. The mayor and Dave, finance director, said the fiscal note is not legislative text and therefore not amendable on the floor; Dave said he would “take a look” at the request and consider the edit. The committee then recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the item.

On Legistar 86996 (TID 44, Royster Clark), Dan Rolfes, TIF staff, told the committee the amendment would do two primary things: dedicate $155,000 for lighting along Stone Road to improve lighting near a tiny-home development, and set aside $500,000 for small-business assistance programs (commercial ownership assistance, facade grants, building improvements and small-cap TIF). Rolfes said the district is expected to close in 2026 after it has recovered outstanding costs, and estimated incremental new value at about $100 million at closure. The committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor.

On Legistar 87015 (TID 51, South Madison), Rolfes said the amendment mostly reallocates dollars among projects: some projects’ costs decreased (for example, Penn Park’s cost came in about $1.9 million lower), allowing increases elsewhere (Bowman Park from $1,000,000 to $1,600,000). The Rimrock Road project was removed and its funds rolled into related work. Rolfes said CDA land-banking dollars were moved to assist the South transfer point and Park and Badger redevelopment. He also said the project plan originally set aside $10.5 million for financial assistance to rental development; when those funds are committed to a specific project — in this case, the Parker Place Apartments — the city must amend the project plan and obtain joint review board approval. Rolfes emphasized the amendment does not change the TID’s total authorized amount; he said the TID remains at $99,480,000. The committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor.

Votes at a glance

- Legistar 86995 — Amend project plan for Tax Incremental District No. 36 (Capital Gateway): Motion to approve moved by Alder Rummel; second not specified in the record; outcome: approved (unanimous). Notes: Funds to be used for removal and replacement of turf at Bruce Stevens Field; finance director to consider requested fiscal-note edit referencing legislative file 82711 (perens res-24-0357).

- Legistar 86996 — Amend project plan for Tax Incremental District No. 44 (Royster Clark): Motion to approve moved by Alder Madison; second Alder Rummel; outcome: approved (unanimous). Notes: $155,000 for Stone Road lighting; $500,000 set aside for small-business assistance; district projected to close in 2026 with estimated $100 million incremental value.

- Legistar 87015 — Amend project plan for Tax Incremental District No. 51 (South Madison): Motion to approve moved by Alder Madison; second Alder Rummel; outcome: approved (unanimous). Notes: Reallocations among parks and projects (Penn Park, Bowman Park, Heifetz Park); Rimrock Road eliminated and funds reallocated; $10.5 million rental-development assistance to be allocated to Parker Place Apartments through subsequent approvals.

Staff follow-up and context

Committee members asked staff to provide more detail to relevant boards and commissions where required. Alders sought clarity on project lists and fiscal-note language; staff said they would supply a more comprehensive report to the Board of Park Commissioners and that legal and joint-review-board processes would be followed when allocating set-aside redevelopment dollars to a specific rental project.

The amendments reallocate existing TID authority rather than increasing the TID totals; committee members emphasized the changes are administrative reallocations intended to advance neighborhood lighting, parks and small-business support while preserving broader TID funding limits.