Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 | 6:57 p.m.
The Boulder City Redevelopment Agency in April will likely stop giving grants until members agree about how the tax money should be used.
Mayor Roger Tobler said he will move at the board's next quarterly meeting to suspend grants and stockpile RDA money for a large city project, such as revamping the Nevada Highway medians.
Councilman Travis Chandler and Councilwoman Linda Strickland said they would support the mayor's idea. The members of the City Council also serve as members of the RDA.
Redevelopment Agency money comes from taxes on rising property values in the redevelopment district and is generally spent on removing blight and improving properties within the district. Boulder City's redevelopment district includes most of the town's commercial and industrial areas and two golf courses.
The RDA has provided more than $3.3 million in grants since 2000.
Tobler said he thinks the grants have served their purpose of addressing blight in the downtown business area, and grant applications have dwindled.
"Maybe it's time to take it in a different direction," he said.
Chandler and Strickland have suggested the money should benefit homeowners, and that business owners should have to prove a financial need for the grants.
Strickland suggested implementing a loan program for businesses and homeowners to keep money recycling through the fund.
Tobler, Councilman Mike Pacini and Councilwoman Andrea Anderson share a different philosophy. They believe the money should go to business owners as an incentive to improve their properties.
In June, Pacini and Anderson will be replaced by two new councilmen who could sway RDA votes either way.
Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy