City denies school request for fee waiver for sustainability center
The city of Whitefish has denied a request by Whitefish Schools for a rebate of fees paid to the city associated with the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.
City Council shot down the request Aug. 21, saying approval could be a “slippery slope” of precedent for future requests, but said the city would be willing to work with the district to find another way to support the project.
Whitefish Schools had been asking for a full or partial refund of the $29,276 it paid in building permit and impact fees to the city for the under-construction sustainability center at Whitefish High School.
Councilor Frank Sweeney said he was troubled by the decision, noting that he wanted to support the sustainability center.
“What we’ve been asked to do, we can’t make an exception here,” he said. “We would like to offer a discussion about how we might support you.”
“We never waive fees for anyone,” Councilor Andy Feury added. “The city has supported the schools through the tax increment finance and we supported the high school remodel, but this sets a dangerous precedence to waive the fees.”
Schools Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt said the district is committed to supporting sustainability efforts throughout Whitefish and the state, and the center will enable community members of all ages to learn about sustainable energy, agriculture, forestry, natural resources and entrepreneurship.
“We’re asking for your support and assistance with the sustainability center,” Davis Schmidt said. “We think this will be a great resource for K-12 students, but also for the community.”
Construction on the center is estimated to cost $2.1 million and the district has secured additional funding for a total project budget of $2.7 million to get the educational program up and running. The outdoor learning center is set to be located on about 3 acres of land at Pine Avenue and East Fourth Street is scheduled for an opening of late spring 2018.
If its request had been approved, the district planned to reroute some of the funds back into areas of the project that had to be cut in the final stages of design because of cost.
Council’s vote was unanimous 4-0 against the request. Councilors Richard Hildner and Pam Barberis were absent from the meeting.
Under an interlocal agreement with the city, the school district receives annual TIF payments from the city. The funds are given to the school bi-annually through 2020, when the TIF district sunsets. In 2012, City Council approved a separate $2.5 million allocation of TIF money toward the construction of the new Whitefish High School.