Paris council approves tax-abatement resolution for Linda Cheney under 5-and-5 infill program

The Paris City Council on a 6-0 vote approved a resolution authorizing an economic-development agreement and a tax-abatement agreement with applicant Linda Cheney under the city's 5-and-5 housing infill program.

The resolution authorizes abatement for improvements on up to 10 single-family dwelling units across multiple parcels identified by the city's property identification numbers. City staff told the council the application had been reviewed under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code and the notices required by Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code had been sent, meeting the 30-day requirement.

City staff said the proposed abatement would apply only to the incremental taxable value attributable to the required improvements on otherwise undeveloped properties and that the measure would have a negligible budgetary impact.

Council members asked whether work on any properties had already begun. A council member noted that developers sometimes start at their own risk; staff responded that the city cannot grant a tax abatement for properties where work already commenced and that any property found to have started construction would be ineligible for abatement on that parcel.

After brief discussion the council approved the resolution. The motion passed 6-0; a council member seconded the motion by Mr. Ellis.