Commissioners seek second Moorefield Township TIF hearing as officials push for facts

Commissioner Sasha L. Rittenhouse said the board would pursue a second, evening public hearing in Moorefield Township so residents could ask questions and receive more factual information about a proposed tax increment financing (TIF) arrangement. She said inaccurate information had circulated and the county would post a fact sheet on its website with all material it is allowed to share.

Mr. Harris, responding to commissioners’ questions about school impacts, explained that a school board votes on a compensation agreement — not the TIF legislation itself — and stated, “There is no scenario where the schools would get nothing.” Rittenhouse and Commissioner Charles A. Patterson both emphasized the commission’s commitment to ensuring the school district is made whole through the compensation process.

Darren Cotter, a Moorefield Township trustee, told the board trustees support another public hearing and argued that enrollment and district policy affect reported capacity: “If you go to the school’s website today, it advertises open enrollment. The schools are at capacity because they choose to be.” Cotter also noted that new residents would contribute to the local earned income tax, which does not fall under the TIF and would benefit schools.

Rittenhouse suggested holding a joint public hearing with the township and potentially local schools so residents could get answers in one forum. Commissioners discussed timing and venues for an evening session in Moorefield Township and said they would wait for more complete factual and financial data before taking a final vote on any TIF-related documents.

Next steps: the commission will prepare a public fact sheet for its website, coordinate an evening public hearing in Moorefield Township, and continue work on the compensation agreement language before any final vote.