School Board votes against Warner Robins’ Tax Allocation District

By JESSICA CLARK and MATTHEW BROWN

 

After Warner Robins Council members voted to approve a Tax

Allocation District Monday in hopes of sparking the redevelopment of the

Commercial Circle Corridor, the Houston County School Board voted against the

resolution Tuesday, stating a lack of information as the reason for the vote

against.

School Superintendent Robin Hines said the school board

voted against the Tax Allocation District, not because they were against the

district but needed more information on it.

“It was not appropriate for the board to vote on something

of this magnitude,” stated Hines, after saying they did not have enough

information and had “too many questions.”

Redevelopment officials for the city presented the school

board with the Tax Allocation District resolution Monday night at the school

board’s work session after the Warner Robins council voted to approve the

district.

Hines said that was the first time the board had seen the information,

and they were not prepared to make an informed decision at Tuesday’s meeting,

having only one night to review the information presented.

Chairman Tom Walmer said it was unfortunate that the board

was put in such a position due to “inadequate planning” with no time for proper

review or community input. As an example, he said neither he nor the board

would expect Hines to present them anything on a Monday and demand a vote the

next day. The same, Walmer said, is expected of other governmental agencies.

“This did not happen overnight,” said Walmer. “Is the

project worthwhile? I think it needs to be done, and this is a great starting

point. I think we need to approve it, but there are more questions right now.”

The chairman went on to state that getting those answers

would require more work than just having a special called meeting.

Board member Skip Dawkins said that not all entities were

considered, even though it is a good project.

Board member Fred Wilson, who resides close to the area in

question, said he read the proposal over both Monday night and Tuesday morning

and still had numerous questions. It was important, Wilson said, to make an

intelligent vote and that the board all be together on it as it has been with

other issues.

Board member Marianne Melnick made the motion to not approve

the Tax Allocation District. She and the other two members present, Helen

Hughes and Jim Maddox, said nothing about the issue other than to agree on the

worthiness of it and dissatisfaction on how it was presented. The motion passed

unanimously.

In an email sent Tuesday night, Mayor Chuck Shaheen said, “We

will be glad to provide additional information to the Houston County School

Board on the benefits of a Tax Allocation District (TAD).  We believe an approval from the board

would strengthen our collaborative goal of providing residents of all ages and

income levels the opportunity to live, work, and play in an area that has been

redeveloped with their needs in mind.”

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