Neligh TIF Project Stalled After Special CRA Meeting

A TIF project in Neligh has stalled and will not move on to the city council after failing to pass through the Re-Development Authority of the City of Neligh (CRA).  

The CRA did not authorize a tax increment financing project during a special meeting held on Thursday evening.

Neligh Economic Development Director Greg Ptacek said Joe Funk and BethAnn Funk of Neligh filed a second TIF application for assistance to move a house from 310 West 10th Street to 402 West 10th in order to build an addition for a housing duplex.

The first application for this project requested $77,869 in TIF funds to cover costs with this project.

The second application requested $27,526 in TIF funding to cover public benefit expenses associated with this project.

Ptacek said the CRA board has been hesitant to allocate TIF funds for personal housing. 

“There had been some concern by the board that the community would not get behind this project because even though this project is legal, it is hard to explain and may seem like it is for personal use,” Ptacek said.

Dennis Anderson made a motion to authorize preparation of documents for $27,526 eligible expenses with a clause that requires a duplex to be built within 5 years or TIF funding will cease.  

Ashley Krohn and  Dennis Anderson voted in favor and Terry Jensen voted against it. Al Stelling was absent from the meeting.

Because Bryan Funk is listed as a contact on the application along with his father and wife, Joe Funk and BethAnn Funk, respectively, he recused himself from discussion and abstained from the vote on the project.