The Tax Increment Financing (TIF) conflicts of interest for Black Creek Subdivision abound, and finally a shred of justice from the courts, yee haw. It is truly mind boggling to see just how easy it was to scam the taxpayers out of $9 million and legal fees for a subdivision road for a golf course community. Really, taxes for golf programs?
Never before has Hamilton County government or the city of Chattanooga government gifted our property tax dollars to build subdivision roads and sewers for developers. TIF was created to encourage development in blighted areas. I fail to see how a subdivision road in Black Creek for a golf course community is blight. As one council person pointed out, “This TIF is bling not blight.”
The attorney conflicts of interest with the developers being on city appointed boards, being related to a City Council member, and employed by the law firm brokering the TIF deal, plus campaign contributions to elected officials, this is a conspired taking. We the poor were robbed to give to the rich.
The $9 million bond issue could have been made available for redevelopment of blighted areas in Chattanooga. Instead we get to fund a golf course road.
Helen Burns Sharp is the most awesome citizen in Hamilton County for using her own resources to expose this travesty perpetrated against we the people.
The TIF conflicts of interest are being exposed in court to citizens like Helen.
April Eidson