Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Terry Schutten <br />January 16, 1990 Page 3 <br />dedicated. TIF is virtually the only source of funds available for <br />redevelopment and economic development activities. To end, <br />complicate, or greatly curtail the use of TIF is to end, complicate or <br />greatly curtail economic and redevelopment activity in the County. <br />These are areas of concern for which the County takes little or no <br />responsibility. I suspect, however, most of the County's residents <br />feel these areas are very important. In the 1988 survey of New <br />Brighton residents by Decision Resources, over two - thirds of the <br />residents felt the City should be directly involved in economic <br />development and revitalization. These people are Ramsey County <br />residents as much as they are City of New Brighton residents. <br />4. The report never answers the question of whether TIF is achieving <br />the goals it was set up to accomplish, or whether those goals are <br />appropriate. This should be the central question when measuring TIF <br />as a tool of public policy. <br />5. The report refers to abuses of TIF, and "strategies" are proposed for <br />addressing them. The report provides no facts supporting whether or <br />not abuses are occurring or are a significant problem. It is difficult <br />to accept the idea that drastic changes are needed in TIF law without <br />information showing the problems which need correction. <br />6. The County's report implies that its <br />of TIF projects. This is simply not <br />has and is continuing to grow, even <br />within TIF districts. Moreover, tax <br />districts will return to the County's <br />still further. <br />tax base is "shrinking" because <br />the case. The County's tax base <br />excluding tax base contained <br />base contained today within TIF <br />general tax base, increasing it <br />The Ramsey County TIF Strategies Report can serve a very useful <br />purpose. It can be the beginning of a constructive exchange between the <br />users of TIF and the County. Certainly, the use of TIF and community <br />development activities throughout the County mn be improved. The goal <br />of all the political jurisdictions within and including the County is the <br />same, namely serving the interests of our citizens. This letter is offered <br />in the interest of serving that aim. The City of New Brighton looks <br />forward to the opportunity for further sharing of concerns and ideas. <br />Sincerely <br />1 <br />lA rr CA .JA) hv <br />City Manager <br />DC /vi <br />Page 98 <br />