From the Northwest Indiana Times:
Porter County commissioners began the process Tuesday of transforming the county Redevelopment Commission from its advisory role into a board capable of initiating the creation of tax increment financing districts.
County Plan Commission Director Bob Thompson said earlier this year that the new board would be able to initiate a TIF at the site of the new hospital at Ind. 49 and U.S. 6 to capture tax dollars to fund improvements within that area.
The commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to repeal the former commission and then gave preliminary approval for the creation of the new board. Final consideration will come June 19.
The new commission will be made up of five voting members — three appointed by the county commissioners and two by the County Council, Thompson said. A school board member from any of the county's districts will be appointed by commissioners as a sixth, nonvoting member.
Economic development adviser John Shepherd, who served as volunteer director of the former commission, said the original advisory group was the only one of its type in the state.
"They couldn't complete any action of their own," he said.
The powers of the new redevelopment commission, which are spelled out in state law, provide not only for initiating TIFs but also for receiving grant money, Shepherd said.
The new commission will be able to initiate TIFs but will not grant final approval, he said. All proposals must be approved by the county Plan Commission and county commissioners.
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/porter-county-aims-to-give-redevelopment-commission-more-power/article_5cf24289-408e-5d82-9cd0-c3dc5657c881.html
