Clarksburg — The City Council voted on Dec. 18 to advance three ordinances on first reading that would change the boundaries and project plan for the downtown tax-increment-financing (TIF) district and create two new TIF districts to support private redevelopment.

Council considered an amendment to the downtown redevelopment district that, if enacted, would allow use of TIF revenues to support rehabilitation of several downtown properties. The first-reading motion carried by voice vote.

Council then approved on first reading an ordinance to create "Clarksburg Redevelopment District Number 2" to support the Waldo Hotel project and to establish a city escrow and disbursement agreement allowing movement of funds from the downtown TIF to an escrow for the Waldo redevelopment. Council members and staff discussed that the developer’s incentive obligation tied to the Waldo is roughly $2,000,000 and debated whether to move the full amount from TIF funds or to wait until staff can confirm what the city has already committed. An official said the agreement is structured so disbursements would typically be reimbursement-based — the developer submits requisitions and the city pays a percentage of actual expenditures.

Council also moved forward on first reading an ordinance to create "Clarksburg Redevelopment District Number 3" for the Golf Building, which would establish a TIF fund for that district and authorize movement of up to $750,000 from the downtown TIF to an escrow for that redevelopment. At the meeting a staff member said the full incentive commitment for that project is $2,750,000 and that a dollar amount must be inserted by the second reading.

Unidentified speakers who summarized the drafting urged caution about timing: if state or assessor reviews push final approvals into January, the council could still use first readings now and finalize details later. Council asked staff to confirm current TIF balances and any prior expenditures that might reduce the amounts available for transfer.

What’s next: All three ordinances were advanced on first reading; staff said the council will need to set or confirm dollar amounts and finalize disbursement agreements before final enactment.