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Council rejects full TIF award for United Methodist Church, then approves funding for trees and ramp excluding solar
Summary
Council members split 3–3 on an initial $17,288.99 TIF request for the United Methodist Church, then approved a revised $4,204.99 award that excludes solar panels and covers tree removal and a handicap ramp.
The Lewistown City Council on July 20 considered a TIF funding request from the United Methodist Church that originally sought $17,288.99 for solar panels, stump removal and a handicap ramp. The TIF advisory board had recommended the full request.
Several commissioners questioned using TIF dollars for a tax-exempt institution's solar installation because solar reduces an entity's electric bills and does not directly increase tax increment revenue. A motion to approve the full request failed on a 3–3 split.
A revised motion to exclude the solar portion and to fund tree/stump removal plus the handicap ramp was then moved and seconded. The amended amount discussed in the meeting was $4,204.99; council voted to approve that amended funding. Public commenters objected to subsidizing solar (one called it "socialism") while others emphasized community benefits for families served by programs in the church building.
Next steps: staff will process the amended TIF award for the tree work and the accessibility ramp; the church may seek additional funding separately for solar at a later time if it chooses to reapply.
Quote: "The church itself does not pay taxes, but it provides a service to our community," staff said during the debate, summarizing why the advisory board recommended the grant.
