After the board took a vote earlier this month to grant tax-exempt status for the Wilkes Villa project, a commissioner raised questions at the Sept. 26 meeting about the project’s cost estimates and asked for more due diligence before similar future votes.

The commissioner said the project is 174 units with a $69 million total cost as presented to the county, and that those figures imply roughly $396,000 per apartment and about $433 per square foot for renovation of 159,000 square feet. The commissioner said those numbers are "extensively high in the building trade" for a remodeling project and asked the developer to explain the fees before the county considers future tax-exemption requests for this and similar projects.

Why it matters: commissioners said the project involves federal tax dollars and that, while the county is not ultimately liable for the development’s costs, the board’s decision to grant tax-exempt status is a public action and requires a level of stewardship and transparency.

Discussion: the commissioner asked that the developer and their counsel brief the three commissioners before coming back for future exemption votes. Other commissioners agreed the developer should present more detail explaining high fees and cost drivers. The commissioner said two more similar projects are pending and asked for a meeting to examine cost components such as preconstruction fees, renovation complexities, and any federally required scopes.

Ending: The board did not reverse its prior vote at this meeting; the commissioner said he wants more information before future exemption decisions and will request a meeting with the project team.