Shelby County ad hoc committee advances draft PILOT reforms calling for county approval, clearer tests and clawbacks

Commissioner Henry Brooks, chair of the Shelby County Pilot Ad Hoc Committee, said the group will prepare ordinance language so the county attorney can review recommended reforms to PILOTs ahead of the regular Nov. 20 meeting. "We are the stewards of public money," Brooks said as he opened discussion on Nov. 6.

The committee discussed three principal reforms it plans to advance: require county commission review of new PILOT agreements and any extensions; require independently verifiable pre‑approval analyses (often called a "but‑for" or benefit‑to‑cost analysis) and supporting documentation; and include enforceable callback or clawback provisions that trigger repayment or penalties when a developer fails to meet contractual obligations.

Dr. Harrison, a committee member and participant in the discussion, urged members to treat the draft list of reforms as a "menu" and prioritize short‑term items that could be enacted before the state legislature acts. "We should view this as like a menu ... and we should think about what do we wanna order off of this menu," Harrison said, arguing for a focus on provisions that are politically winnable in the near term.

On specifics, committee members agreed a…