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Council requests Jackson Redevelopment Authority to appear as members propose auctioning unused JRA properties
Summary
Council members asked the Jackson Redevelopment Authority to attend the next meeting to explain a $1.4 million line (bond payments and appropriation) and floated an idea to auction underused JRA properties to return them to the tax roll; CAO Taberson recommended a dedicated JRA meeting to clarify partnership and debt obligations.
Council members at the finance committee asked the Jackson Redevelopment Authority to come before the committee after reviewing a $1.4 million line tied to JRA in the draft budget. Finance staff said that amount includes both an appropriation to JRA and JRA-related bond payments; council members asked for a bond schedule and more detail on the debt under JRA.
Councilman Foote suggested the city consider auctioning JRA properties to move units back into private ownership and onto the property-tax rolls. ‘‘When they buy it, they have to start paying property tax,’’ Foote said, proposing an auction with national notice and development stipulations; other members said they would prefer a local-first preference for purchasers.
CAO Peter Taberson supported the request for more information and recommended a dedicated meeting with JRA so members can explain their strategy, bond obligations and partnership role with the city. ‘‘I think that JRA and, again, I don't wanna pledge your time, but I do think the relationship between the city and JRA warrants its own committee meeting,’’ Taberson said. The chair agreed to schedule a specific meeting with JRA.
Next steps: The administration will provide a detailed bond-payment schedule and a clearer breakdown of the JRA line items at the follow-up meeting; the committee has not endorsed any auction or sale policy and will seek full JRA participation before taking action.
