Special tax district could spark progress

Macon-Bibb County officials are considering a tool aimed at spurring redevelopment along the edge of downtown.

The County Commission has given the Middle Georgia Regional Commission the go-ahead to have a public hearing for a proposed tax allocation district, or TAD, that would cover 547 acres around the Ocmulgee River and east Macon. “Ocmulgee Crossings” would encompass a section of “a historically disadvantaged East Macon community” and include Coliseum Drive and stretches onto Emery and Gray highways, according to a draft of a redevelopment plan.

“The idea is we’re improving the gateways into the community, helping build those connections between downtown where we’ve seen a lot of progress being made to the other side of the river where everyone still drives through,” Greg Boike, public administration director for the regional commission, said at a meeting last week.

A tax allocation district freezes the property tax rate for a period of time. Any property tax revenue brought in over a certain threshold due to redevelopment would be reinvested back into the district. For example, in Ocmulgee Crossings that money could be used to extend the Heritage Trail or for streetscape improvements with new lighting, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Officials would also have the ability to issue bonds that could help pay for construction within the TAD.

Ocmulgee Crossings would expand the 2010 Bibb Mill Center tax allocation district along Coliseum Drive and Clinton Street. The special tax district would encompass Macon Coliseum, Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon Marriott City Center, Coliseum Medical Centers and more. There are two other TADs in Macon — Second Street and Renaissance on the River.

The area could be ripe for redevelopment with the Georgia Department of Transportation’s improvements to the Interstate 16 and Interstate 75 interchange, the report said.

“Though these organizations have brought economic diversity and pride to Macon, there is still much to be done to fully develop the area,” the report said. “There are a number of vacant properties that sit just off Gray Highway. Several houses remain empty or rundown on the expanse of Emery Highway.”

A drawback to TADs is limiting how property tax revenue can be spent within a community. Unlike most property tax revenue which could be spent at officials’ discretion, TAD revenue would have to be reinvested into the district. The TAD would need to receive the final blessing of the County Commission, and those behind the plan will soon contact Bibb County school officials to gauge their interest.

Earlier this year, a proposed TAD in the Atlanta suburb of Doraville drew opposition from some DeKalb County school officials. The district’s superintendent said he would not “gamble” with money meant to educate students, according to ajc.com.

The Ocmulgee Crossings plan also cites a 2007 finding from the Livable Communities Coalition, an agency focused on growth around metro Atlanta, that shows the success of many TADs across Georgia. Existing tax allocation districts forecasted an average return of $5.80 of private investment for every dollar of public investment, the report said.

The Ocmulgee TAD also has the support of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, which has been involved in the redevelopment plan. If approved, Ocmulgee Crossings would go into effect in January.

“(Ocmulgee Crossings) is drafted for 20 years with commissioners having the ability to revoke the status early if no progress is seen,” regional commission Executive Director Laura Mathis said.

Commissioner Mallory Jones said the new district could become a catalyst for economic development along an important corridor.

“Hopefully, it’ll snowball and lead to redevelopment and we can add it back to the tax rolls,” Jones said. “We think it’s a good plan. We hope to revitalize that area and make it an exciting (place) instead of a dead area.”

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Special tax district could spark progress."