Council pencils out TIF priorities

Improving downtown parking is the top priority among all of the city’s “major” tax increment finance funded projects.

Council voted on their top TIF priority projects during a work session last month. They divided suggested projects into two categories, “major” projects and “minor” projects. Building a new City Hall was not included in the discussion because TIF funds are actively being set aside to pay for that project.

Construction of the Skye Park footbridge and implementing the Depot Park master plan tied as the second most critical TIF project. Assisting a private developer, whether it be with a downtown hotel or other project, was ranked as a third priority.

Assisting the redevelopment of the vacant hospital site was also listed as a major project, but tallied only one vote. A final major projected considered, but receiving no votes, was to purchase lots adjacent to City Beach to expand public access to Whitefish Lake.

The top “minor” project is to freshen up the city’s downtown master plan. The plan was first crafted in 2005 by consultant firm Crandall Arambula, of Portland. It is estimated to cost about $25,000 to refresh the plan.

Others minor projects include installing a public restroom downtown, the wayfinding sign project, establishing a summer trolley service, assisting the housing authority with three homes in the Railway District, embellishing a new Second Street bridge and demolishing the drive through at Depot Park.

City manager Chuck Stearns said there is likely enough TIF money available to fund all of the minor projects.

The TIF district was established in 1987. The amount of revenue from property taxes going to the city’s general fund was fixed at that time. Additional revenue as property values increased through subdivision and development went into the TIF fund where it is invested and used for public projects.

The fund sunsets in 2020.

TIF money has already assisted a number of projects, including the construction of the Emergency Services Center, helping purchase Depot Park and helping lower the recent Whitefish High School bond.