Pittsboro council approves preliminary tax abatement for Faith Technologies after debate over infrastructure plan

The Pittsboro Town Council voted 3-2 to approve preliminary resolution 20 26-01, designating an economic revitalization area and authorizing assessed-value tax deductions for Faith Technologies Incorporated, a proposed light-manufacturing development in the town's northeast quadrant.

Speaker 6 introduced the resolution, saying the applicant proposed a 500,000-square-foot facility on roughly 48 acres with an estimated construction cost of $39,000,000 and that the company anticipates placing about $13,500,000 in qualifying personal property into the area. The resolution cites Indiana code section 6.1 6 dash 1.1 dash 12.1 and proposes a 10-year abatement for real property and a five-year schedule for personal property.

Councilmember Jerry challenged the timing of the abatement, urging a temporary moratorium on tax abatements and incentives until the town completes an infrastructure master plan for the area north of Interstate 74. "The infrastructure master plan should include all utilities, as well as thoroughfare and fire protection services," Jerry said, adding that the figures in the economic analysis show the proposed real-property abatement would divert "3,645,378" from the tax roll in the first 10 years and give away "$662,796" in personal-property tax according to FSG Corporation." He also said Faith Technologies had declined to participate in constructing a municipal water tower and argued the town should know where a municipal tower might sit before approving abatements.

Speaker 6 summarized the applicant's statements of benefits and asked whether there were further questions. After brief discussion, the council held a roll-call style approval: the council approved the preliminary resolution 3-2. Speaker 6 said the council will hold a public hearing and consider a confirmatory resolution on March 3.

The outcome advances the town's preliminary designation of an economic revitalization area for the project; the confirmatory public hearing on March 3 will give residents an opportunity to comment before any final abatement is adopted. The motion and vote leave unresolved competing priorities raised in the meeting text: council members pressed for better infrastructure planning while other members supported the town moving forward with the applicant's proposed schedule and the EDC's recommendation.