Angola redevelopment commission adopts confirmatory resolution to expand TIF district

The Angola Redevelopment Commission voted to adopt a confirmatory resolution confirming a declaratory resolution and an amended plan to expand an existing tax-increment financing (TIF) district, commissioners said after a public hearing in which staff and consultants explained how the district will operate and what it may fund.

Commission member Aretha Hicks told the audience the notice many residents received was required by statute but ‘‘does not change the property tax applicable to your property’’ and ‘‘will not authorize the commission to take any action to acquire your property.’’ Hicks read language from a letter prepared by the commission’s attorney explaining those limits.

Attorney Tom Pittman, who the commission identified as counsel for the redevelopment effort, told attendees the statutory notice requirement often alarms property owners; he called the notice ‘‘a nothing burger’’ intended to meet the law’s procedural requirement rather than to indicate imminent action on private property.

Consultants described how the TIF works and what the amended plan allows. Jason Simler of accounting firm Baker Tilly presented the required annual TIF report, saying the commission’s latest financial report shows about $1,138,500 currently in the fund and that the captured increment is estimated to generate roughly $248,000 this year and about $251,000 next year under current assumptions. Simler said the TIF’s base and incremental values can change year to year, and that recent legislative changes affecting residential credits were a factor in the amendments.

Staff and consultants emphasized the commission’s stated purpose for the expansion: to enable local public improvements and infrastructure that make underutilized parcels developable. Hicks said the commission selected parcels — including aging downtown blocks and lots along an extended Woolworth Street — where utilities or other infrastructure limitations currently prevent reuse or new investment, and that eligible uses in the amended plan include infrastructure, incentives and planning expenses.

Crystal Welsh, who said she has been assisting the redevelopment commission through the amendment process, pointed audience members to the plan’s list of eligible activities and reiterated that the current plan contains no acquisition list and therefore does not authorize TIF-funded property purchases; she said any future decision to acquire property would require an amended plan, another public hearing and negotiated sales.

Residents at the hearing raised concerns about acquisition and tax effects. In response, the commission and counsel reiterated that the commission does not possess eminent-domain power for this plan and that owners with a homestead exemption would not see their increment captured for the TIF. Hicks said the commission has used some TIF funds in the past — citing signage along I-69 paid from the redevelopment fund about five years ago — but otherwise has not heavily spent the fund and expects potential benefits to emerge over a multi-year horizon.

After closing the public hearing, a member moved to adopt the confirmatory resolution that affirms the declaratory resolution and the amended plan; the commission conducted a roll call and moved to adopt the resolution by roll call vote. The motion passed and board members encouraged residents and prospective developers to bring project ideas to staff for potential TIF-supported infrastructure or planning assistance.

The commission then heard Baker Tilly’s annual report overview and closed new business. The meeting adjourned after routine housekeeping items.