Portland City Council on Monday voted to appropriate more than $225,000 of economic development income tax (EDIT) funds to city projects.

It also approved a tax abatement for FCC Indiana and the continuation of current tax abatements.

Council members Mark Hedges, Kip Robinette, Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Michael Brewster, Kent McClung and Don Gillespie voted to appropriate $223,479 of EDIT reserves to the new pool project.

That account had a balance of $581,280.71 as of June 30.

It also appropriated $25,000 of EDIT money to the downtown façade program for 2015, with $3,000 of it being allocated to this year’s projects.

Council has given EDIT funds for the program the last few years, Mayor Randy Geesaman said.

“Is that going to effect us any on our separation on the west end and some of that down the road if we keep spending this money,” Gibson asked.

Geesaman said there’s a chance allocating $25,000 to the downtown façade program each year may affect other city projects and the council should be cautious as it spends money going forward.

“Since we funded so much for the Portland pool, we want to be cautious,” he said. “Each year we ought to look at it and not necessarily fund it every year.”

Council also approved a tax abatement for FCC Indiana on a recommendation from the tax abatement advisory committee. The company is making a $27-million investment and requested a five-year personal property tax abatement.

The company plans to buy equipment to add a third manufacturing line to increase its capacity.

It also approved the continuation of tax abatements for the following companies: Pennville Custom Cabinetry, Jay Progress, FCC, Fort Recovery Industries, IOM Grain, Joyce Dayton, Moser, Priority Plastics, Stay Jay Hotels, Stoneridge and Tyson.

The tax abatement advisory committee didn’t receive the proper documentation from Fort Recovery Construction and Pioneer Packaging to continue those tax abatements this year.
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