Letter to the Editor:
I support responsible city growth. But we all should oppose subsidies for development costs inside the four borders of a privately owned development. Decisions related to the use of the NCA tool should focus on fiscal responsibility, fairness, and long-term impacts.
I have talked and heard from other Mount Vernon residents and below are some of their reasons for not allowing NCA or TIF funds to be used inside private property.
If City Council chooses to approve Ordinance 2026-24, (the application to enter and to establish a new development in the New Community Authority) it should do so only after adding a clear restriction to the ordinance that protects city residents and future homeowners:
“No revenue generated by the New Community Authority through the use of Tax Increment Financing shall be used for construction or financing of any street, roadway, utility, or other infrastructure located within the Vernonview development Parcel No. 66-07961.000.”
- The NCA and TIFs associated with the new district request should not become a subsidy that increases a developer’s profit margin.
- If a development is financially viable, it should be able to pay for its own internal streets.
- Approving one subsidized subdivision creates a precedent that future developers will expect.
- The city risks establishing a policy where private developers routinely seek public financing for basic infrastructure.
- Developers who pay for their own infrastructure compete on a level playing field. Subsidies distort competition.
- Public funds should first address aging infrastructure, traffic improvements, sidewalks, and safety projects that benefit the entire community.
- Once public financing mechanisms become common, they become increasingly difficult for future councils to deny.
- Mount Vernon has successfully required developers to construct streets in previous subdivisions.
- Every public dollar spent inside a new subdivision is a dollar unavailable for repairing existing city streets.
I respectfully ask that City Council Vote “No” on Ordinance 2026-24, if TIF funds will be used inside the private property lines of the Vernonview Rd Parcel 66-07961.000.
Don Carr
4 Upland Terrace