Obergfell renews plea for TIF balances, inflows and outflows at Redevelopment meeting

Council appointee Thom Obergfell renewed his request on Monday for Fort Wayne Redevelopment staff to provide financial information for the Fort Wayne Tax Increment Financing Districts.

Mr. Obergfell made the request at last month's meeting of the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission meeting.  Mr. Obergfell repeated his request at the Monday meeting of the Commission; Mr. Obergfell had asked the staff for totals of the cash balances in each of the TIF districts created by Fort Wayne.  He also asked for the yearly inflows and outflows of the various TIF districts.

A TIF designation over a particular geographic area means that property tax payers in the defined area will pay any additional property taxes above the base established at the time the TIF was created to a segregated fund corresponding to the district.  The funds are overseen by the Redevelopment staff.

Comments

[Mike Sylvester]

Was a reason given for why they did not have the infomration for him at this meeting?

Mike Sylvester

[Toby Mac]

He didn't say simon says.

or

He forgot he could only make such requests on the third Monday after a full moon in years when Fort Wayne doesnt try to raise taxes.

[john b. kalb]

This Commission is responsible for fiscal control of the TIF revenues. Yet, it appears that nobody on the redevelopment staff has a handle on any of the periodic reporting of transactions. I can tell you that Pat Roller, City controller, DOES have these figures handy - she responded to my requests on the Jefferson-Illinois Road TIF in one day when I asked for historic data last year.
At yesterdays meeting, for the first time that I have been in attendance, I heard a question asked about "approval of claims"(actually on two claims-both related to Harrison Square) and A NEGATIVE VOTE BY A COMMISSIONER! Wow, maybe the commission may really become an active, deliberative group! I remember talking with one of the former commissioners who told me,"we really don't get into discussions - we just vote the way the mayor wants us to vote". In other words, a "rubber stamp" commission.

It appears that two of the new members of this commission, Tom Obergfell and Casey Cox, are going to listen to residents and taxpayers plus discuss things before voting, a great improvement>

[Christopher Guerin]

Mitch,

It is unfair to imply that the Commission staff is not willing to provide the information requested. We've been talking for 2 months about a "training session" for new commissioners, which is now slated for May 21, where exactly what Thom is requesting will be presented.

Christopher Guerin
President
Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission

Ed. note: Chris - Mr. Obergfell asked for the information at the last meeting. The information was not provided to him. He renewed his call for that information last night.

It is simply straight reporting.

It is really not a matter of staff response, either. The public has a reasonable expectation of leadership from the officers of the Redevelopment Commission.

This is public information that ought to be provided to the members of the Redevelopment Commission on a monthly basis, it ought to be provided to the members of the City Council, and it ought to be provided to the public - online.

In addition, digital recordings of the Redevelopment Commission meetings should be provided for download - online.