Thursday, May 16, 2013

How can we improve "Quality of Life" in Commerce Texas?


I have harped on the for years, if you want Commerce to grow and prosper we need to improve the "Quality of Life"
Did you know Commerce is one of 108 cities that have a 4A economic development tax?

And yet there are 361 cities in Texas that have a 4B tax! Why would 3 times the number of cities have a 4B tax?  BECAUSE YOU CAN DO MORE!

Direct from the Texas EDC Website:
The Type B sales tax may be used for any project eligible under Type A rules and several other project types, including quality of life improvements. Type B corporations may pay for land, buildings, equipment, facilities, targeted infrastructure and improvements for:
professional and amateur sports and athletic facilities, tourism and entertainment facilities, convention facilities and public parks;
related store, restaurant, concession, parking and transportation facilities;
related street, water and sewer facilities; and
affordable housing.
To promote and develop new and expanded business enterprises that create or retain primary jobs, a Type B EDC may fund:
public safety facilities;
recycling facilities;
streets, roads, drainage and related improvements;
demolition of existing structures;
general municipally owned improvements; and
maintenance and operating costs associated with projects.

Most of those are needed in Commerce but we cannot do them because we are 4A.

Wouldn't you like entertainment facilities? Improved public parks? Restaurants? Affordable Housing? Improvements to the City Pool? Public Library?

The possibilities are almost endless under 4B so why is it that we stay 4A?

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