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Residents question tax abatements for Skybox data center while business leaders urge balance
Summary
During public comment, residents raised concerns that Chapter 380 tax-abatement negotiations favor large developers while small businesses suffered during construction projects; the San Angelo Chamber praised council guidance on data-center ordinances.
Several residents used the public-comment period to raise concerns about tax abatements and economic development incentives tied to proposed projects including a Skybox data center and the Stock Show and Rodeo Coliseum renovation.
China Young (Single-Member District 4) said the city—'s handling of economic development appears uneven: "We have local businesses impacted by city projects that have to wait until they're already struggling before support is offered," she said, and called attention to Chapter 380 agreements and an email produced through public-information requests related to the draft 380 for the Skybox project.
Steve Vilenius, president and CEO of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, urged a balanced, reasonable approach. "For those of you who are old enough, you can remember these brick phones... It was an unfounded fear. I'm gonna tell you the same thing about data centers," he said, while commending council guidance on water and sound in the draft data-center ordinance.
Council did not act on a tax-abatement agreement during the meeting; however, the council later announced executive-session consultation on Chapter 380 and Chapter 312 tax-code matters before returning with a personnel appointment.
