North Bend school board approves urban renewal amendment and allowance for public building in downtown housing plan

The North Bend School District 13 Board of Education voted 5-2 to approve two resolutions that endorse a substantial amendment to the City of North Bend Urban Renewal Agency (URA) plan and allow a public building project to be included in a proposed downtown housing development.

The amendment is intended to keep approximately $250,000 a year of locally generated tax increment in North Bend and to leverage a previously awarded $4,000,000 federal grant for a downtown housing project, city officials told the board. Jeff Bridal, finance director for the City of North Bend and its urban renewal agency, urged the board to support both votes and said they would “benefit our students, strengthen our community, and cost the school district nothing.”

Bridal told the board the amendment would not change state school funding, which he described as “enrollment based, tied to the number of students in our classrooms.” He said the proposal would help create housing for families, which could increase enrollment and associated state funding. Bridal said the city…