City, county officials: Change still the story (02/01/06)

The year of 2005 was all about changes, and according to city and county officials, more are in store for 2006.

A county commissioner announced during his State of the County address Tuesday afternoon that an increase in county taxes is likely.

And the city’s top official said plans to establish a redevelopment commission and set up a tax increment financing (TIF) district in Portland are expected to move forward.

“The door of opportunity is open, folks, in the city of Portland,” Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said to the large crowd at the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

During his State of the City address Hosier said, “The city of Portland is moving forward in the establishment of a redevelopment commission” and a TIF district. “We will continue with an honest and open approach” in the establishment of the district and commission.

Redevelopment commissions — made up of five appointed members — decide where to establish TIF districts in areas of the city targeted for redevelopment. The taxes on the rising assessed valuation in the districts is used by the commission members to improve infrastructure within the districts.

City council members have already approved an ordinance establishing the commission on first reading. The ordinance is expected to go before council members for final approval Monday at 7 p.m.

One big financial change is expected for the county.

Gary Theurer, Jay County commissioner, said taxes in the county likely will increase because the county is no longer allowed to collect inventory taxes from car dealerships. State officials said collection of the tax had to stop by the beginning of this year, he said.

Because of the change, the county’s assessed valuation is expected to drop to $747,485,975 this year, Theurer said. This is a decrease of about $50 million, he said.

However, there is some good financial news for the county.

“New homes are being built, I’d say, almost every day in the county,” Theurer said. Agriculture in the county continues to grow, he added.

Theurer said county officials are hoping to see one or two ethanol refineries built in the area.

“We’d at least like to land one of them,” he said.

County officials have been working with The Andersons, which has a grain terminal outside of Dunkirk, on the possibility of establishing such a plant.

Both Theurer and Hosier took time to reflect on the changes which took place in the county and city during 2005.

Hosier praised city employees and utility companies for their efforts during and after the Jan. 5, 2005, ice storm.

“We should be especially proud of all our city employees,” Hosier said.

“We need to thank the (American) Red Cross, the volunteers, the businesses and the utility companies from other states,” for their efforts during the storm and its aftermath, Theurer said.

“As you know, back In 2005 we got off to a lot worse start in January compared to this January,” Theurer said.

The county spent thousands of dollars on debris clean up from the storm, he said.

The city faced another blow after the ice storm.

“We were again challenged, with the death of (city clerk-treasurer) Barb (Blackford),” Hosier said. “On July 20, the city lost not only a city employee but a ... friend.”

Blackford died of an apparent heart attack. She had been the city’s clerk-treasurer for nine and a half years.

Hosier contributed the city’s good financial situation to Blackford.

He also commended current city clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy for accepting the challenging position, and deputy clerk-treasurer Tina Paxson, for serving as interim clerk-treasurer before Kennedy was chosen.

He said Mickey Pensinger, the city’s court judge who also works in the water office, and Diane Goodman, a water office employee, helped ease the transition period.[[In-content Ad]]