Citizens of Juniata listen to a presentation by attorney Mike Bacon
about Tax Increment Financing Thursday night at a Public Hearing
at the Juniata Village Hall. The village board hired Bacon to help the
town move forward with a blight designation, which would allow the
town to use TIF funds for redevelopment projects.
JUNIATA — The village of Juniata is moving forward on a resolution that could spur redevelopment projects and attract new property owners — but not without worries from residents.
The Juniata Village Board agreed Thursday to draft a resolution designating the entire village as “blighted and substandard,” which will qualify the town for tax increment financing under the Nebraska Community Development Law.
Dozens of Juniata citizens attended the 2 1/2-hour-long public hearing Thursday night to ask questions and give their opinions about the proposed designation.
Several community members voiced concerns that the designation would devalue their properties and wished the board had conducted a public discussion earlier in the process. The item has been on the board meeting agendas since the fall, but many citizens were hearing about the designation for the first time.
Others worried that TIF money would be given to new developers and longtime homeowners would not see the benefits.
To read more, see Friday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.>>>
