Commissioners discuss forming economic-development working group amid $3.5 million revenue shortfall

At the close of its agenda, the planning commission reopened discussion on economic development and sketched steps for a public-facing effort to identify target industries and educate taxpayers about fiscal trade-offs.

One commissioner urged action, citing a large out-of-county project as an example of revenue that counties can attract and saying the county needs new income. "We are 3 and a half million short on revenue over expenses for the coming year," a commissioner said, arguing the county must consider how to grow the tax base.

Multiple commissioners recommended forming a working group or task force that could include planning commissioners, county commissioners, bankers, real estate representatives, school officials and local industry. Participants suggested a mix of invitation-only and open-forum formats; several warned against relying solely on newspaper notice that tends to draw the most vocal opponents.

Suggestions for next steps included adding a December 9 agenda item to discuss county development, drafting a consistent questionnaire to gather input from invited stakeholders, and assigning staff to circulate reminders and collect initial ideas. The commission emphasized compliance with open-meetings rules and the need to produce a tangible work product to share with state representatives if appropriate.

No formal vote created a permanent task force at the meeting; commissioners agreed to return on December 9 with ideas and to ask staff to circulate a meeting notice and a draft questionnaire.