BOCC Passes Ordinance to Create Parrish Improvement District

Posted Sunday, September 4, 2022 12:00 am

Staff Report

BRADENTON – At Thursday's Manatee County Commission land-use meeting, commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the adoption of an ordinance that would establish the Parrish Area Improvement District.

Such TIF (tax incremental financing) vehicles subsidize development or redevelopment and other public improvements like infrastructure by directing increases over the property tax funding levels that existed at the creation of the district to a fund that can be used for such projects.

The idea is that the funding will help the county invest in such areas as redevelopment, and infrastructure improvements such as streets, utilities, sidewalks, lighting, parks, playgrounds, etc.

Commissioner George Kruse took the lead on the project, but when it came before commissioners in a previous meeting, there were concerns over the size of the TIF district, which has since been reduced.

Commissioner Misty Servia said that she would have liked to have seen it go workshop so that the board could "develop" the plan, rather than be asked for an approval without a full presentation. She and Commissioner Carol Whitmore expressed concern that only 35 percent of the TIF revenue would have to be spent within its boundaries.

Kruse said that it was done to mirror the southwest county TIF, but acknowledged that the older, more developed area had a much broader base to draw from and said he wasn't opposed to moving it to 50 percent, which was enough to ensure support for its passage.

Commissioner James Satcher, who seemed lukewarm to the idea previously, said he wouldn't oppose the matter.

"I'll just let you know, though, that I have it lined up to have more money coming into that area, more investment from the county to that area, than this TIF would take in for years and years," said Satcher, adding that he hoped future boards would not claim that the TIF funding would put a limit on such investment by the county.