Athens committee reviews process for new or amended tax allocation districts; commission votes to pause changes

The Legislative View Committee met Thursday, Feb. 6, at City Hall to review a staff proposal for a formal process to create new Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) or amend existing ones; commissioners subsequently moved to pause any creation or boundary amendments of area TADs while leaving room for project-specific proposals.

The proposal, presented by Ilkay McConnell, director of the Economic Development Department, and Daniel Young, the TAD coordinator, outlined the state and local steps needed to form or change a TAD, including parcel definition, certification of the tax base by the Georgia Department of Revenue and preparation of a redevelopment plan and school‑impact analysis. "The proposal is staff's recommendation on a draft process," Sarah George, chief of staff in the manager's office, told the committee. "We're not asking you to tell us right now to go amend the TAD or to create."

The committee’s vote came after multiple commissioners pressed staff for more information before authorizing redevelopment plans. Commissioner Wright moved that the committee "pass this agenda item without action — no new TADs, no amending existing TADs," a motion seconded by Commissioner Thornton and carried…