JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville businesses could see a sliding-scale tax abatement program after city council members Tuesday moved to vote on an ordinance at the council’s next regular meeting.
Councilman Dennis Julius said at Tuesday's meeting if the ordinance is passed, businesses would qualify for different levels of tax abatement based on a number of factors, including number of people employed, benefits provided and whether a new or existing facility is used.
“Really what we’re trying to do is make it a little more fair for companies that are bringing more to the city right now,” Julius said, adding that currently a business that creates one job could qualify for the same percentage of tax abatement as a company that creates 100 jobs.
Although a scale based on a point system would help determine the level of tax abatement a business receives, Julius said there would be options to approve a higher tax abatement for a business based on special circumstances.
“I feel like it’s a tool in the tool box that we can start to use,” Julius said.
An ordinance is expected to be presented at the Sept. 21 council meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing was held to address the possibility of amending Jeffersonville’s zoning code, but the council will likely schedule a second public hearing.
That’s because the council is required to have three readings to amend the code and none had been held prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
The changes would add two different marketplace zoning codes that would allow for multi-use developments in areas like the east-end gateway near the River Ridge Commerce Center. Department of Planning and Zoning Director Shane Corbin said that area is currently zoned as low-density residential.
As a marketplace zone, the area could host residential and commercial property. A traditional marketplace no. 1 zone could include small to medium businesses that face the street and are pedestrian friendly. A traditional marketplace no. 2 zone could include large or “anchor” businesses, Corbin said.
The ordinance was passed on first reading. A public hearing will likely be scheduled to be held during a third and final reading.
PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
The council also passed on second reading an ordinance to allocate funds to the Public Arts Committee on an annual basis. The council could allocate 4 percent of the annual collection of economic development income tax funds to the committee.
But Councilman Matt Owen asked Clark County Attorney Scott Lewis if the ordinance would require the council to allocate the funds in all future budget years. City attorney Les Merkley was not at the meeting.
Lewis said state statute dictates that budget decisions are made by calendar year. The council could vote against allocating the funds to the Public Arts Committee in subsequent budget years.