Washington TIF report finishes early, under budget

The city of Washington has completed its annual Tax Increment Financing (TIF) paperwork, an essential step in the complicated bureaucratic process designed to spur economic development.

“In order to collect Tax Increment Financing revenues, the city must complete two important items this time of year, with Dec. 1 as the deadline,” City Finance Director Kelsey Brown said in a memo to the city council. “The first is the state of Iowa Annual Urban Renewal (UR) report … the second item is the Washington County TIF Debt Form for each active UR area.”

Washington’s TIF work was covered by former City Administrator Brent Hinson for the last several years, who described it as a means for the city to incur debt to itself.

“It’s a highly technical process, and we’ve got to make sure that everything is done properly,” he said in July. “It affects what the city is going to receive and other entities are going to receive in tax dollars, and it’s really important that it’s done right.”

With Hinson’s departure, Brown was left to take the wheel.

“I have never been more proud of myself,” Brown said. “I spent the entire last week working on both the report and the certification, but I got everything to work out and tried to follow Brent’s lead … I’m happy to say I completed the Urban Renewal report by myself.”

Brown’s achievement saved the city several thousand dollars in consulting expenses, according to Mayor Jaron Rosien.

“We had put some money aside for consulting work and assistance for Kelsey,” Rosien said. “While some of that came to a small bit of fruition, ultimately (she) just tackled it.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com