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Senate panel debates tightening definition of 'blight' used to form TIF districts
Summary
Senate Bill 1 would update the statutory definition of blighted areas that qualify for tax increment financing. Sponsors and local governments generally supported modernization but many testified in 'soft opposition' seeking an amendment to explicitly include infrastructure upgrades and unoccupied buildings in the criteria.
Senator Greg Hertz (Polson, Senate District 7) introduced Senate Bill 1, a Revenue Interim Committee bill to revise the statutory definition of ‘‘blight’’ used when forming urban renewal or tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Hertz told the Senate Tax Committee the goal is to remove duplicative language and tighten criteria so TIFs are used where true blight exists and to protect property taxpayers.
Hertz said the rewrite removes long-standing duplications in statute and focuses the law on structural disrepair, infrastructure deficiencies and other concrete indicators of blight. He described the effort as part of recommendations from the property tax task force and the committee’s interim work. Hertz also said he supports an amendment from the League of Cities and Towns that would narrow and modernize the bill’s language.
Testimony from cities, developers and business groups largely…
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