Commission signs off on tax abatement for Louis Dreyfus expansion

The Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission approved a resolution to record the county council’s tax abatement for Louis Dreyfus’ $50 million expansion project and signed it for the commission record as required by state statute.

Steve, presenting the item, said the expansion began January 1 and will run for two years to increase processing efficiency at the plant; the company indicated the expansion will increase throughput without substantially changing employment levels. The council approved the abatement; the commission adopted and signed the corresponding resolution so the action is on the redevelopment commission record.

Commission staff noted the council granted abatements for three years on personal property and five years on real estate; staff also explained how captured revenues will flow into the Dreyfus TIF funds and how collections are split between bond and cash funds under the existing TIF structure.

A commission member moved to approve the resolution “to approve the abatement for the Dreyfus TIF area as already approved by the council,” the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The commission was told the abatements are limited in duration (3 years personal property, 5 years real estate) and that cash from the improvements is expected to begin returning to TIF captures by 2027. The staff noted that whether personal property improvements are captured by the TIF depends on the original TIF resolution language; commission staff said they believed the Dreyfus TIF did include personal property capture but did not confirm the line‑by‑line citation at the meeting.