[note: The following letter appeared in the Oshkosh Northwestern on December 30, 2001. Writer James Noe wants the Northwestern to do some research on the city's Tax Incremental Finance Districts (TIF) and determine "whether or not these districts are benefiting the entire community, or only a select few." Mr. Noe is absolutely correct that information about the TIFs is needed, but my question is this: why isn't the Oshkosh Common Council doing the work? Aren't the Councilors interested in whether or not the city grants TIFs in a manner that is in line with requirements set down in state law? Just as with the Jackson St. project, the Wal-Mart development, and the 100 block negotiations, it appears as if there is not more than 1 or 2 members of the council (and perhaps not even that many at this point) interested in standing up for the taxpayers against City Hall and state bureaucracies and well-connected developers.--TP]. Now James Noe's letter:
Thank you for this opportunity to provide input to your agenda for 2002.
What this community needs is an in-depth listing and analysis of the city of Oshkosh TIF districts. Past and present reporting has been limited primarily to their formation with little or no follow-up to their total costs and overall financil impact on the community.
What citizens need to know, and only The Northwestern has the time, manpower and resources to gather, is whether or not these districts are benefiting the entire community, or only a select few.
This in-depth analysis should be done on an individual basis; TIF number, name, location, etc. and should include but not be limited to: 1. Year established; 2. assessed value and taxes at time; 3. revenue removed from city general fund and school district; 4. city purchase price; 5. additional miscellaneous city costs such as relocation expenses, demolition costs, clean-up costs, fill and grading; 6. improvement costs such as water/sewer , streets, parking, utilities, etc.; 7. total city investment; 8. selling price to developer; 9. developers improvements, type, and dollar amount; 10. completed property assessed valuation; 11. tax revenue generated; 12. comparison of tax revenue to city costs; and 13. accounting of monies received and application to TIF expiration.
I may have missed a few items, but hope you get the idea - what did it cost the taxpayers? Where did the money go? What, if any, is the return on the investment? When will the taxpayers see that return?
It should come as no surprise that the foregoing information and the data is not to be found in the city of Oshkosh annual report, nor is it available from a single source at City Hall.
Should you wish to include the TIF report in your agenda 2002, you would be performing a needed and valuable community service to the city taxpayers.
James Noe, Oshkosh