Shown are members of the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission. In the front are, Virginia Cazier, left, Syracuse clerk-treasurer and Syracuse Police Chief Jim Layne, In the back are Commission President Larry Siegel and Cory Mast.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — In a brief meeting the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission approved a number of resolutions.

Resolution 2021-07 was passed amending resolution 2017-02 to include Aluminum Insights and Travel Star to capture tax revenue.

Jim Higgins, of London Whitte, the accounting firm the Town of Syracuse uses for various projects, explained resolution 2021-08 required the commission to notify the county auditor and all affected entities affected by the Syracuse Tax Increment Finance District, as to whether an increase in assessed value will be passed on to them. The notification must be made by June 15.

The commission took action that it does not have any increased value to pass on.

Resolution 2021-09 required the commission to notify the Elkhart County auditor and all affected entities in Elkhart County affected by the South Benton TIF the commission does not have any increase in value to pass on.

The commission approved resolution 2021-10 for approval of Legacy Wood’s tax abatement and resolution 2021-11 approving Quality Engineering Services’ tax abatement. Both tax abatements must be approved by the Syracuse Town Council.

Higgins explained to the commission the Gateway TIF Management-Development Report was filed with the state prior to the April 15 deadline. The commission has a copy of the report.

Higgins explained the annual entity which is required by the state. Last year it was done in the fall due to COVID, but is typically done in the spring when the commission is required by the state to invite all the impacted entities of the TIF districts, such as schools and libraries to come to a meeting to ask questions about the commission’s finances, budget and vision.

The affected entities were invited to this meeting, no visitors came to ask questions.

Higgins also went over the declaratory resolutions for Aluminum Insight and Travel Star for personal property to capture tax revenue. The process includes going before the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission regarding expanding the TIF district. The resolution also has to go before the Elkhart County Planning Commission then to Syracuse Town Council before coming back to the commission.

In new business, the commission approved task orders for Commonwealth Engineering regarding the new road in the Syracuse Technology Park since the work will be paid for with TIF funds. The task order has to be approved by both the commission and the Syracuse Town Council.

Police Chief Jim Layne, a member of the commission, asked about when work will begin on Brooklyn Street for Polywood, since his department will need to consider detours while the work is being done.