From the Richmond Palladium-Item:
The Richmond Common Council on Monday is expected to resume the debate over Mayor Sally Hutton’s use of Economic Development Income Tax funds in city projects.
Council members will consider an ordinance that would allow the city to receive just more than $2 million in federal highway money to rebuild South E Street from 16th to 23rd streets.
To get the federal money, the city would be required to add $511,500, or 20 percent of the project, as a local match. Hutton has indicated she plans to use EDIT money for the match, spreading payments over three years.
Some members of council disapprove of the use of EDIT funds, which have been designated for use in economic development. To Councilwoman Misty Hollis, that means the money should be used directly to create or retain jobs.
Hollis held up progress on the ordinance in June.
“My main reason is I wanted the community to talk about this,” she said. “I’m not opposed to rebuilding South E Street. What I am opposed to is using EDIT to match it. I believe EDIT dollars should be saved for job growth incentives and not neighborhood road projects.”
But councilman Ron Oler said he thinks the local match “is a good use of EDIT dollars.”
“I believe the city needs the best infrastructure possible to attract the best jobs possible,” he said. “We know it’s a legal use (of EDIT funds), but is it the right use? Some say EDIT should not be used unless it directly affects job creation and retention.
“But I see the indirect connect as a good use, keeping infrastructure repaired,” he said.
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http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012306290014
