Jasper City Council approves up-to-22-year 2% sales-tax abatement for Jasper Pavilion
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Summary
After a public hearing, the council approved a development agreement to abate 2% of city sales tax for Jasper Pavilion LLC for a period that could extend up to 22 years; portions of sales tax pledged for bonds would not be abated.
The Jasper City Council voted to approve a development agreement granting Jasper Pavilion LLC an abatement of 2% of city sales tax on sales at the development for a period that could extend up to 22 years.
The measure, presented during a public hearing, was introduced by Attorney Robertson, who told the council, “it is now time for the public hearing on the request for economic development assistance by Jasper Pavilion LLC.” Robertson said the proposed agreement would abate 2% of the city sales tax but would not affect portions of the tax pledged to pay bonds for Jasper High School, certain development projects, or other bonded obligations tied to the city’s parks and city hall.
Kathy Chambers, a city staff member who the attorney addressed during the hearing, confirmed the city staff had reviewed sales tax projections: “Yes, sir,” she said when asked whether she could certify the projections.
Attorney Robertson also noted a required engineer certification of costs and asked whether the council had received it; he said he did not remember if certification had been received, and the record shows the council proceeded with the public hearing and a vote.
Council members moved and seconded the motion to approve the agreement and voted in favor; the transcript records unanimous affirmative responses from council present.
The development agreement approved by the council, as described in the hearing, would abate the 2% sales tax only for sales occurring at the Jasper Pavilion development and would not abate payroll-related taxes or sales-tax components pledged to bond payments.
Council action followed a public hearing in which the applicant’s representatives were present but did not deliver extended remarks on the record. The council did not attach other conditions on the record beyond the exclusions Robertson outlined.
The council’s approval authorizes the city to enter the described agreement with Jasper Pavilion LLC; the transcript does not record details of the effective date, the precise start date of the abatement, nor whether final engineering certification was provided in writing after the hearing.
