Wooster — The Wooster City Council on Nov. 17 rejected seven parcel‑level tax increment financing (TIF) ordinances that city administration said would fund infrastructure to speed planned development in several corridors.

Mayor Reynolds spent a substantial portion of the meeting explaining the city’s rationale for the TIFs, saying the instruments do not reduce property taxes paid by owners but instead dedicate the incremental tax revenue from new development for a limited period to pay for related infrastructure. He said the seven proposals combined would generate about $124,000 a year for 10 years and could help accelerate projects along South Market Street, Cleveland Road and Burbank Road corridors.

The mayor grouped the seven proposals into four categories: Apple Creek Bank (South Market Street), two projects on the Cleveland corridor (including a 45‑unit apartment), a Bell store and car wash at Smithville Western and Cleveland, and three Burbank Road projects (including Texas Roadhouse and a Chick‑fil‑A), saying TIF proceeds would pay for corridor and streetscape improvements.

Council members repeatedly voiced concerns about timing and the need to coordinate with the Wooster (city) School District. Several members said the school district’s financial position made it important to avoid surprises and that the city should secure the district’s support before approving instruments that could affect long‑term capital timing. The mayor said staff would meet with the new board members and the superintendent before pursuing future TIFs and that a phone call from the superintendent or board president would be sufficient evidence of support.

Each ordinance was read on third reading and put to a roll call vote. Motions to adopt were made and seconded; the roll calls recorded a majority of ‘No’ votes on each of the seven ordinances, and none of the seven advanced to approval that evening. Council members who spoke in opposition mentioned project timing, the potential immediate traffic impacts (particularly from the 45‑unit Cleveland Road apartment), and a desire to consider items individually and more slowly rather than vote a package of seven at once.

The council left a separate, related budget appropriation ordinance (Ordinance 2025‑23) on first reading for further review by the finance committee, scheduled to meet Dec. 1.

What happens next: The administration said it may return with individual TIF proposals after meeting with the newly seated school board members and confirming their support. Any future TIF would still require council approval and be subject to the statutory processes described by the mayor.