Tax Increment Area

The City of Ridgefield has been considering the formation of a Tax Increment Allocation Area (TIA) as a financing tool to fund critical infrastructure improvements that will support the development of Ridgefield as a regional employment center. In this type of financing, other taxing districts in the designated area temporarily forego some taxes raised from the increase in assessed value in the TIA and the dollars are directed toward public infrastructure improvement in the boundary. As part of the public outreach portion of consideration, the city has been in direct contact with all the impacted taxing districts. From early in the process, Clark Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR), one of these districts, has expressed their concerns about the impact of the proposed TIA on their operating budget. The City is proud to report that together we have developed a voluntary mitigation plan that both parties can sign on to.

“This process has been a great example of community partners working together to come up with a solution that best serves the current and future needs of the residents of Ridgefield,” said Mayor Jennifer Lindsay.

A mitigation plan is not required by the state for this proposed TIA, however, the City values our partnership with CCFR and recognizes the importance of adequate funding for fire and rescue services. City councilors and staff have earnestly engaged in multiple conversations with CCFR commissioners and staff about the impact of the proposed TIA on fire service to create a voluntary mitigation plan. The voluntary mitigation plan includes:

1. The City will purchase property for a new CCFR fire station by 2025 that will serve the TIA and broader City, prior to any impacts from the TIA being felt by any taxing districts.
2. The City and CCFR will agree to formal meetings between our community’s elected leaders, starting when impacts might be expected and regularly after that, with information that will help our future elected officials better understand real impacts and find solutions to mitigate them.
3. The City is committed to end the TIA early if the bonds are paid for the necessary infrastructure projects identified in the project list. In this case, the affected taxing districts will begin receiving the full amount of property tax revenue from the increased assessed value prior to the 25 year duration.

These measures will be included in both the ordinance considered by the City Council, and an Interlocal Agreement which will assure that there is accountability and certainty in the agreed-upon terms for both the City and CCFR.

“CCFR supports the current Ridgefield plan and looks forward to continuing working with the City as a partner in all of the ways that both of our jurisdictions serve the citizens of Ridgefield” Chief Nohr commented after Public Briefing #2 on October 26.

The infrastructure projects proposed for this TIA are necessary for future development of living-wage employment and desired services in Ridgefield. The costs exceed the capacity of current city revenue and will require borrowing. Without a TIA, repayment for these projects would stress funds in other critical services supported by the City’s General Fund, such as police, parks, and city services. After the TIA expires, CCFR will reap the benefits of an increased tax base due to the private development that will occur as a result of infrastructure improvements. Future taxable development is forecast to add over $700 million of assessed value to the tax rolls and much of this new construction would not be possible without the infrastructure investments funded by the TIA. This voluntary mitigation plan ensures protection for CCFR’s operating budget during the TIA’s existence and provides needed land for a new fire station.

The first reading of the TIA ordinance was completed on Thursday, October 26. The second reading is scheduled for Thursday, November 2.

CONSIDERATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the City of Ridgefield will consider Ordinance No. 1410 to establish the tax increment financing area for the public improvements in the Ridgefield Tax Increment Area at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2023. The meeting will be at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer Street. The boundary includes properties stretching as far north as North 20th Street, east as North 85th Ave, south as South 20th Way, and west as Royle Road. The boundary includes 942.2 acres. The proposed public improvements include primarily transportation infrastructure to allow for better traffic flow and for new development to occur in the TIA and building a regional stormwater facility. The transportation improvements are to widen Royle Road, Build North 5th Street, North 51st Avenue, North 56th Avenue, South 51st Avenue, widen Pioneer Street, build a new east/west street south of Pioneer, build a new north/south street east of I-5 and build the South 10/11th Street I-5 overcrossing.

The ordinance and other public information may be inspected from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the city’s offices located at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer Street, Ridgefield Washington.

You may attend the meeting online.

CONSIDERATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the City of Ridgefield will consider Ordinance No. 1410 to establish the tax increment financing area for the public improvements in the Ridgefield Tax Increment Area at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2023. The meeting will be at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer Street. The boundary includes properties stretching as far north as North 20^th Street, east as North 85th Ave, south as South 20th Way, and west as Royle Road. The boundary includes 939.1 acres. The proposed public improvements include primarily transportation infrastructure to allow for better traffic flow and for new development to occur in the TIA and building a regional stormwater facility. The transportation improvements are to widen Royle Road, Build North 5th Street, North 51st Avenue, North 56th Avenue, South 51st Avenue, widen Pioneer Street, build a new east/west street south of Pioneer, build a new north/south street east of I-5 and build the South 10/11th Street I-5 overcrossing.

The ordinance and other public information may be inspected from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the city’s offices located at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer Street, Ridgefield Washington.

You may attend the meeting online at https://ridgefieldwa.us/163/City-Council

The City of Ridgefield will hold a public briefing on October 26, 2023, at 5:30PM at Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer Street on the tax increment financing of the public improvements in the proposed Ridgefield Tax Increment Area. The proposed TIA is centered around the intersection of I-5 and SR 501/Pioneer Street. The boundary includes properties stretching as far north as North 20^th Street, east as North 85^th Ave, south as South 20^th Way, and west as Royle Road. The boundary includes 939.1 acres.

The following additional transportation projects have been included on the proposed TIA project list so that if future tax allocation revenues are sufficient, the City has the option to pay for these projects with tax allocation revenues from the increased property taxes from the assessed value of the proposed new private development in the Ridgefield Tax Increment Area. The proposed projects and amounts of Tax Increment Area financing allocated to the projects are primarily transportation infrastructure to allow for better traffic flow and for new development to occur in the TIA and building a regional stormwater facility. The transportation improvements are to widen Royle Road, Build North 5^th Street, North 51^st Avenue, North 56^th Avenue, South 51^st Avenue, widen Pioneer Street, build a new east/west street south of Pioneer, build a new north/south street east of I-5 and build the South 10/11`th Street I-5 overcrossing.

The funding of a TIA is from the increased property taxes from the new development within the TIA and the impact is primarily on the other taxing districts. A detailed projection of impacts on other local governments is shown in the Project Report on the City of Ridgefield website.

You may attend the meeting online at https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/city-departments/city-council/.

For more information, please visit the City of Ridgefield Tax Increment Area website at https://ridgefieldroundtable.org/tax-increment-area

The City of Ridgefield will hold a public briefing on July 13, 2023 at 5:00 PM at Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer Street on the tax increment financing of the public improvements in the proposed Ridgefield Tax Increment Area. The proposed TIA is centered around the intersection of I-5 and SR 501/Pioneer Street. The boundary includes properties stretching as far north as North 20^th Street, east as North 85^th Ave, south as South 20^th Way, and west as Royle Road. The boundary includes 939.1 acres.

The following additional transportation projects have been included on the proposed TIA project list so that if future tax allocation revenues are sufficient, the City has the option to pay for these projects with tax allocation revenues from the increased property taxes from the assessed value of the proposed new private development in the Ridgefield Tax Increment Area. The proposed projects and amounts of Tax Increment Area financing allocated to the projects are primarily transportation infrastructure to allow for better traffic flow and for new development to occur in the TIA and building a regional stormwater facility. The transportation improvements are to widen Royle Road, Build North 5^th Street, North 51^st Avenue, North 56^th Avenue, South 51^st Avenue, widen Pioneer Street, build a new east/west street south of Pioneer, build a new north/south street east of I-5 and build the South 10/11`th Street I-5 overcrossing.

The funding of a TIA is from the increased property taxes from the new development within the TIA and the impact is primarily on the other taxing districts.

After publishing notice of the previously scheduled public briefing, the city was directly made aware of a potential conflict for members of our community who may wish to attend and learn more. We want to ensure the best possible public involvement opportunity for this investment in needed infrastructure, so the meeting has been moved to the next Council meeting date, Thursday, July 13. To allow for adequate time during the briefing before the regular Council meeting at 6:30 PM, the public briefing will begin at 5 PM.

You may attend the meeting online at https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/city-departments/city-council/.