Roosevelt council agrees to explore Utah Inland Port Authority TIF partnership for Main Street revitalization

The Roosevelt City Council on an unspecified date heard a 45-minute presentation from representatives of the Utah Inland Port Authority and directed city staff to explore a resolution inviting the authority to work with Roosevelt on a tax-increment financing (TIF) project area for Main Street revitalization and small-business façade grants.

The presentation, led by a Utah Inland Port Authority representative, explained the authority’s model: after a land-use authority (the city) passes an invitation-resolution, the port authority helps draft a plan and budget for a port project area and can capture a statutory share of incremental property tax revenue generated inside that area. The authority described a 75/25 split of captured increment that would be reinvested in the community (75% to the project area, 25% returned to taxing entities), noted a 5% administrative fee on growth, and said project-area revenues must be reinvested in the taxing district where they originate and cannot be transferred to other cities.

City staff told the council Roosevelt has approximately $800,000 set aside for downtown/Main Street work; the Inland Port Authority representatives described tools the authority can offer such as an infrastructure lending program, small-business assistance and marketing, and assistance that can accelerate TIF-generated financing once property values rise. The authority said it can also work with cities of varied size and that it requires the consent of the local land-use authority before creating a project area; it emphasized local control of land-use approvals and that the authority cannot impose projects without municipal consent.

Council members asked about how TIF dollars are triggered and whether existing redevelopment agency (RDA) arrangements would conflict; the authority said project areas can be noncontiguous, amendments are common, and communities may coordinate interlocal agreements but project-area funds are restricted to the originating jurisdiction unless the jurisdiction agrees otherwise.

After discussion the council voted to direct staff to pursue the next step: have the port authority provide a draft map and plan for the city to review and to return a proposed resolution for council consideration. That motion passed on a voice vote.

The council’s direction does not create a project area or commit city revenues; staff will return the drafted plan and sample resolution for council review before any formal action.

Ending: Staff and authority representatives said they will exchange a draft map and work with existing local redevelopment plans so the council can review the proposed project area and any interactions with Roosevelt’s RDA before a formal vote.