No TIF project for Aiken County

I can't imagine that the Aiken County Council would even consider supporting the TIF concept for a private enterprise developer.

For a development of this type to be financially viable, the developer should be willing to use his own money to provide the infrastructure and recoup the costs through the sale of lots, homes, etc. The project should stand on its own merit.

I guarantee that Mr. Fine and his development company had already determined the project to be financially viable before and without the requested TIF subsidy. Mr. Fine tells us that during the first 25 years Aiken County would benefit by approximately $163 million in property tax revenue in excess of the amount needed to repay the bonds. Thereafter 100 percent of the tax revenue would be available to Aiken County. If Mr. Fine would pay for his own infrastructure up front, Aiken County would benefit from 100 percent of the tax revenues from day one, thereby allowing it to provide necessary schools, police, fire protection and other services without TIF obligation.

Mr. Fine is playing on the recent projected layoffs at Avondale by suggesting thousands of jobs will be created. How many of the affected people have construction experience, and how would TIF benefit them?

Mr. Fine states that Aiken County has a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to ensure that the Northwest side of Aiken County "gets done right". He refers to "the type of development" that plagues the South side of Aiken as something unacceptable. I live on the South side of Aiken and I find it to be perfectly acceptable and a very nice place to live.

To the County Council, I would suggest that Mr. Fine's "once in a lifetime" opportunity for Aiken County will be realized with or without the TIF support, if he does, indeed have a financially viable project.

If you were to approve the TIF subsidy for FineDeering Development, will Woodside Development then be coming to the County/City for similar subsidies as the planned expansion of Woodside Plantation progresses? What about all the other developers? Where would it end?

I find Mr. Fine's shallow argument for the support of TIF financing to be an insult to my intelligence and I would hope the members of the Aiken County Council can see through the smoke screen.

We as taxpayers must not subsidize private for-profit enterprise. The proposed TIF plan must be defeated. Mr. Fine is looking for Santa Claus and he must not find him in the Aiken County Council.

Dennis Troutman
Aiken