The Greene County Board of Supervisors changed their minds about the funding source for their financial commitment to a building project.

Representatives with the Greene County Early Learning Center requested a $250,000 commitment from the Supervisors to kick-start their capital fundraising campaign and provide a match for grant applications. At their regular meeting on January 27th, the Supervisors agreed to provide the necessary support by using tax increment financing (TIF) funds that were going to be generated from the newly established wind turbines. 

However, after much discussion, the Board recently approved a letter of commitment to the Early Learning Center to use local option sales and services tax (LOSST) funds of $250,000 toward the $2.7 million building project. Supervisor Chair John Muir explains why they made the change in the funding source. 

“After conversations with County Auditor Jane Heun, we came to the conclusion that if we would set aside some money starting with this obligation (of the Early Learning Center building project) that we could raise those funds through LOSST. At this time LOSST funds are kind of increasing, which is a good thing too. Everybody was more comfortable with going that route rather than not having a good definition of what was usable from TIF funds.”

Muir notes they had to use TIF funds for their commitment of up to $5 million for the new career academy project with the Greene County School District. He adds, they would not be able to access that amount of money through LOSST. The Board approved a letter of support for the project at their regular meeting this past Monday.