Council gives green light to include TIF incentive in RFP for 20‑acre former Dascese site

Crookston City Council on March 16 gave staff consensus to include tax‑increment financing (TIF) as an incentive in a forthcoming request for proposals (RFP) for a 20‑acre former Dascese property the city holds under a purchase option.

Taylor Wyom, the city’s community development director, said the site lies just north of Memorial Drive and could accommodate roughly 35–45 single‑family homes plus public infrastructure. Wyom presented a TIFF analysis prepared by public finance advisors that illustrated phased development, estimated incremental tax capacity and a range of repayment scenarios developers typically use to finance projects. The analysis showed an original (exempt) base tax capacity under the present ownership; the increment would accrue as market value increases when homes are built.

Why it matters: including TIF in the RFP can make the site more attractive to developers by providing a financing stream derived from increased property taxes. Wyom emphasized the analysis is preliminary and subject to change depending on developer proposals, final market values and council decisions about district terms (for example, term length and the administrative fee up to 10 percent).

Council consensus: after questions about years of capture and traffic/road impacts, councilors agreed to proceed and include TIF as a potential incentive in the RFP materials; staff will finalize the RFP and TIFF parameters for future council review and selection of a developer.