Posted: 11/16/04
Assisted living facility tax abatement approved
by Jane Palen
Managing editor
The county board has agreed to abate $30,147 in taxes over the next 10 years to assist in the development of an assisted living facility to be built in Spring Grove.
Tax abatements give governmental bodies an opportunity to help stimulate economic growth by giving up some tax dollars in exchange for business development. In this case, the facility will have a market value of $724,400 and is to be constructed on property that was formerly tax-exempt. It will create seven new full-time jobs and 11 part-time jobs with salaries ranging from $8 to $15 per hour.
ěThis will mean a lot to the people of Spring Grove,î commented Commissioner Nels Gulbranson, whose fifth district includes the City of Spring Grove.
With the improvements to the property, the taxes are estimated at $4,638 per year (this figure does not include land). The county has agreed to abate $3,478.50 of that amount for six years, and $2,319 for the following four years. The City of Spring Grove has agreed to abate 100 percent of the taxes due it, which are estimated at $5,182 per year. The value of the land is estimated at $61,000. Taxes are not abated on that amount. Total estimated taxes on the property are $11,924 per year. With the abatements, the property owners will pay $3,264. The taxes for the Spring Grove school referendum, $1,840, were not abated and are in addition to that figure.
The total tax abatement is $81,967 over 10 years.
The footings are in place for the building and the scheduled completion date is August of 2005.
Board concerned about extension office space
The board expressed its concern over a recent advertisement from the USDA Farm Service Agency seeking office space. The FSA, located at 603 No. Sprague Street, currently sublets space to the Houston County Extension Service. The county is also planning on providing office space for a county well coordinator, and had planned on placing the person at the extension office.
The board asked Tim Comstock to look into the situation and report back to the board.
Bridge ceremony Wednesday
In other news, county engineer Allen Henke reminded commissioners of a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, November 17, at the new Mississippi River bridge in La Crosse. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com