Arkansas Blog

But the insidious thing about TIF diversions isn't taking away from schools. It puts additional needs on the backs of other taxpayers not favored with TIF status.

I wish you godspeed on any lawsuit to stop this bit of privileged skimming from the top.

You likely know this one by heart but worth repeating:
Ark Constitution, Article 16, Sec 5;

"5. Property taxed according to value - Procedures for valuation - Tax exemptions.
(a) All real and tangible personal property subject to taxation shall be taxed according to its
value, that value to be ascertained in such manner as the General Assembly shall direct, making
the same equal and uniform throughout the State."

Equal and uniform being the key words.

I was one of the few that spoke for the TIF in Baring Cross, only. Argenta is a model for how a TIF can work. 10 yrs ago houses in what used ot be a crime infested neighborhood sold for less than $45,000. Now they average over $115,000 after public investment in infrastructure, ie. Main Street Streetscaping, Trolley, Alltel Arena, Riverfront Park and Trail, Dickey Stephens Park, etc. to the tune of over $100,000,000 in investments, none of which went to property that was taxed by the school district. Yet the 250 houses in Argenta added over $17,000,000 to the district property value. None of it would have happened without the infrastructure, Lower Baring Cross has over twice as many run down houses with the same potential growth.

In additon my street has nearly a dozen new kids living on it that would not have dared lived here in the dark years. The Lower Baring Cross TIF will add hundreds of kids to the school rolls to the tune of over $500,000 per 100 kids in state funding per pupli. The residential TIF in Lower Baring Cross is a good plan and will work. Look at Argenta!!!!

Fair comments SamNLR.

How much revenue that should be flowing into the schools systems from the developments and new housing is NOT going to the school system due to TIF provisions? Millions per year that must be paid by other property holders in the county.

Back in the 70's Ark initiated a municipal loan program, financed by municipal bonds, which provided a pool of low-interest mortgage money to developers and buyers. Such a program would be a more fair way of achieving similar results without creating an unfair property tax burden via disparities created by TIF.

So, SamNLR, with the property values going up, are there people that have to leave because they can't afford the taxes on the properties?

Just wondering...

Personally, I'm hoping the values DON'T go up where I live, because if they do we might not be able to afford them. That is how the middle class and poor are often kicked out of an area by the more wealthy.

Those that only preach development and property values going up as being a good thing have no attachment to the land they own. There are many of us that actually love where we live and don't want to leave.

Isn't that usually what the eminent domain issue is all about? People that love the land opposed to those that only think about making money from the land?

I'm so sick of developers running roughshod over every community (and the Councils that don't bother pretending they're anything but fronts for their community's millionaire developers). (Of course I'm from Conway, so I'm pretty jaded...but rightfully so.) Sure communities need to 'develop'; but they also need a bunch of other stuff...like unpolluted air/water or an equal distribution of infrastructure expenses (not completely one sided would be nice)...or elected leaders who listen to all the people rather than to just the monied few laying naked beside them.

This crap in NLR is an example of why I've quit supporting EVERY school-funding proposition/tax. The thugs have figured out how to grab out of every pot of tax money.

Sam...your argument sucks. You ignore the reality that we need more quality low-income housing, not less; and then you argue that it's ultimately better to use our tax money to help fund private multi-million dollar developments (that displace poor people in favor of wealthier) than to better fund a community's schools. That's just, well, never mind.

If the key to solving the problem of crime-infested communities is taking money from the schools so developers can use our tax money to price poor people out of their homes...we're screwed. How about putting more money into the schools, infrastructure and toward community policing? That's too crazy I guess.

L'wood,

A good point, but if we are going to talk about what taxes are not going to go into the schools, we also need to talk about the taxes not going in for the vacant property now and run down neighborhood in Baring Cross. The best thing about Lower Baring Cross TIF is that it brings rooftops and people in to our city 24/7, not asphalt parking lots, low rise office/retail and commuters.

rablib,
As i recall, property taxes are based on appraisals and if thier houses are not improved, the appraisals will go up less. Also many original owners are still present in Argenta using the increased property values to fund improvements and some even voluntarily sold out making nice profits and improving thier lives. You sound like a person who loves his neighborhood and I hope you stay, looking out for the neighborhood and reap the benefits.

Here is my problem with TIF's.

One taxing entity grants relief from another taxing entity's income.

If I could buy a car and make my next door neighbor pay for it I would do it.

I could tell my neighbor that our whole street would be better off if I drive a better car. Our image would be nicer.

If a city (NLR), county ,or township wishes to help a developer "improve" an area, that City should foot the bill.

If the Bass Pro Shops could be lured to town for 10 bucks or 10 million, let NLR (or whoever wants BPS) cough it up.

Why should one group (schools) who has no say in the matter be the one to subsidize the improvements?

If mayor Hayes and the other CROOKS think BPS is such a great deal for NLR, tack the relief onto the new electric rates and see if citizens in NLR really want to help subsidize the shopping center.

I BET NOT.

I wish someone would put a pencil to it and figure how much money the school district is now getting from the Dark Hollow property and what the projected revenue will be to the city of NLR once the shopping center is open. Show me the money!

just for the record....you don't need a TIF to guarantee a residential neighborhood. it's called zoning restrictions and every neighborhood has them. thus, you want only homes, or condos, or trailers for that matter, then you ZONE it accordingly. very simple process really, esp. when an area is undeveloped.

Thanks Gary, but expecting local governments to respect their own zoning restrictions is like expecting the KKK to protect the dignity of southern women. As long as Americans insist on believing the lies of their government they'll keep looking for someone else to blame.

"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied."
Claud Cockburn