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Billings council sets process to expand South Billings TIF district amid requests for financial projections
Summary
The Billings City Council voted to proceed with a resolution of intent and to set a public hearing to expand the South Billings Urban Renewal (TIF) District, after planners said an amended urban renewal plan and project list will be prepared; two council members voted no, citing lack of detailed financial projections for big-ticket items like a pool and rec center.
Billings — The City Council voted to proceed with a resolution of intent to expand the South Billings Urban Renewal (TIF) District and set a public hearing as part of a multistep urban renewal process.
Council member Tom Ripsis said he would vote against expansion unless staff provides a financial projection showing how existing district commitments (including a recreation center and a proposed pool) affect available capacity in the expansion area. “Without that, I don't think we can give the people in the expansion area an accurate view of what types of things we'll actually be able to handle over the next 20 years,” Ripsis said during debate.
Planning staff said the expansion will require amending the urban renewal plan and that the city will provide more information on projects and infrastructure needs as part of the draft plan. Planning director Wyeth told the council: “We have to amend the urban renewal plan, to reflect that we're including this expanded area and talk about both the goals and priorities in that moving forward,” and said staff will share findings from the blight analysis and host a community meeting on Oct. 9 at Orchard School.
Supporters of the measure argued the area qualifies for renewal tools and that expansion could attract investment to address long-identified infrastructure gaps. Council member Bowen said the plan “opens up a tool to attract development to a part of the community that desperately needs it.”
After debate, the council approved the resolution of intent and set the public hearing to continue the statutory process. Council members Ripsis and Nees voted against the motion, citing concerns about incomplete financial projections and the risk of committing increment for large projects before understanding remaining capacity.
What happens next: staff will prepare an amended urban renewal plan with the expansion-area analysis, publish required notices, and hold the public hearing. Council members asked for a clearer list of anticipated projects and a projection of tax-increment availability before a final approval vote.
