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Court notices public hearing on Americold tax abatement after resident questions public benefit
Summary
The Commissioners Court moved a notice to publish a public meeting about a proposed seven-year, 50% tax abatement for Americold Realty Trust Inc.'s cold storage expansion; a resident asked how the abatement benefits taxpayers and whether jobs were required.
The court on Jan. 14 approved notice that it will consider a tax abatement agreement with Americold Realty Trust Inc. for expansion of a cold storage facility on Blue Mountain Road. The item was pulled from the consent agenda and noticed for a future meeting; the notice passed unanimously.
Public comment and staff response Linda Hanratty, who identified herself as a Tarrant County taxpayer, asked the court to explain the taxpayer benefit of a 50% seven-year tax abatement for the proposed Americold expansion and whether the company was required to create new jobs. Hanratty asked whether the facility would expand absent the abatement and whether the abatement would create an unfair advantage for Americold versus local competitors. She said frequent abatements were a contributor to rising property taxes. County staff clarified that the current action was a required notice that the proposed agreement will be considered at a future meeting (staff cited Feb. 18 as the likely date). No final abatement agreement was approved Jan. 14; the court only approved the public-noticing step required by law.
What happens next Staff will present the proposed abatement agreement at the scheduled public hearing, with documentation intended to show the projected taxpayer benefit, job commitments (if any) and other terms. Residents who asked questions at the Jan. 14 hearing can comment again when the matter is considered for approval.
Ending: The court approved the required public notice to consider the Americold tax abatement at a future meeting; substantive terms and any vote on an abatement will occur after public notice and review.
