Council hears first public hearing on expanded Tulsa International Airport TIF plan as authorized budget jumps to about $975 million

Tulsa City Council entered a public hearing Feb. 5 to receive information on a proposed amendment to the Tulsa International Airport economic project plan that would expand several tax increment financing (TIF) districts and substantially increase the plan's authorized budget.

The council heard a presentation from airport development staff and counsel, who said the amendment would expand capture within existing project-plan boundaries for districts labeled A, B and E (and TIF 9d) to include areas previously considered undevelopable and to account for larger, announced projects. "I'm Jeff Sabin. I'm development counsel for the airport as well," said Jeff Sabin, who described the proposed expansion and directed councilors to slides showing specific district changes. The presenters said the Federal Aviation Administration provided new guidance that made certain land originally purchased for possible runways available for development, and that announced projects such as NorSun and AgileSpace are on a scale that affects the plan's capture and budget.

The amendment does not change the project plan's overall boundary, according to the presentation, but would enlarge some increment districts within that boundary so more incremental tax revenue could be captured. The presenters said the authorized budget in the project plan would increase from about $98,000,000 to about $975,000,000 if the council adopts the amendments at future votes. They described the expansion as intended to reflect the larger-scale industrial projects now being proposed for airport-adjacent lands and to capture sales-tax increments tied to construction costs.

Councilors agreed to hear the presentation during a posted public hearing; the hearing was opened by roll call and no members of the public had signed up to speak on this item. Council members asked a small number of questions during the hearing. City staff and the airport representatives told the council that the proposal will return for additional approvals, including further review by the Tulsa County commission, before any final adoption.

The presentation emphasized economic development and job creation on land zoned for industrial use next to the airport and said the amendment is intended to 'right-size' district capture given recent, larger project proposals. The presenters stressed that runway and taxiway pavement would not be developed, only surrounding parcels that have become developable under recent FAA guidance.

No final vote to adopt the amended and restated project plan took place; the item was heard as a first public hearing and will return for a subsequent council vote and for approvals by other taxing authorities.

Proponents and staff noted the possible increase in the project-plan budget and the need for coordination with other taxing jurisdictions and the county. The council did not take final action Feb. 5; staff said they will return with the ordinance and final documentation for subsequent readings and votes.

A copy of the airport presentation was placed on the council's meeting record; city staff said they will provide additional materials to councilors before any final adoption vote.