By Steve Bell
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-623353.mp3
Kansas City, MO – Less than 24 hours after a Kansas City task force on tax increment financing finished its last public hearing, its recommendations were wending the way through the city council as a proposed tax-break policy ordinance.
Mayor Mark Funkhouser and three council members put the task force's recommendations into the hopper at Thursday's council legislative session. Councilman John Sharp introduced the proposed ordinance, commenting that it does create "real guidelines on issuing and approving tax incentives."
Those guidelines include how many jobs the new development will create, what they will pay and whether it will create an unusual profit advantage for developers. The task force also urges the city to focus more on development in distressed areas.
The new ordinance goes next to the Finance and Audit committee for perfection before a final full-council vote.