It’s understandable that the county commission is concerned about diverting tax revenue from the county coffers. However, Hillsboro city had every intention of including the business park in the original tax increment finance district two years ago but basically a typographical error excluded it.

The plan that the city has proposed to the county of allowing the original district as intended seems fair. The county would have the opportunity to review tax diversions for future development.

We can appreciate the county’s apprehension toward losing tax revenue to another city interested in designating a development district. How many more of these districts will pop up in the county? How much more tax revenue will be diverted?

The big picture here isn’t the amount of lost tax revenue but the amount of new revenue that could be gained from these districts.

These districts should be carefully considered and not automatically approved. Money’s tight for the county and other taxing entities and getting tighter all of the time with the state’s budget in a stranglehold.

But if a development district spurs new development that wouldn’t have happened without the district designation, then isn’t it worth it?

How badly does the county commission want to see the county grow? We know the commission wants to expand the tax base or it wouldn’t have promoted and supported a neighborhood revitalization program.

TIF districts are just another tool to encourage growth.

Let’s work out the details.

— susan berg