Today the Dothan City Commission voted 4-2 to approve a tax incentive plan for Smart Bank to add a new branch across from the Dothan Country Club at the intersection of Cherokee and Main Streets. The total value of these incentives are hundreds of thousands of dollars and they’re in effect for the next 20 years.
This site has been vacant for some time, and it’s my understanding that SmartBank got a good deal on it because it’s a former gas station.
D4 Commissioner Stock and D3 Commissioner Bedwell voted against the resolution because it doesn’t meet the standards that have been previously stated. It’s not something new that will generate sales tax revenue and it’s not in a part of town that needs economic incentives for development. In fact, it’s been said that Smart Bank was going to build there no matter what, so why would the city give away sales tax revenue on the building supplies and property tax for the next 20 years if it was going to be built anyway??? Are they going to do that for every bank or business at a vacant lot or is this just their buddies???
There were also some false statements made by certain commissioners today. Maybe D5 Pierce didn’t read his packet where it clearly states the total value of the project is $3 million, not the $4 million dollar amount he claimed. He also said the city would be getting more tax revenue with this proposal…that is also false. The city just forfeited any right to its property tax on the land for the next 20 years. The only thing that remains is the school’s portion of the property tax, which does not flow to the city. So Commissioner Pierce may need to get himself educated before he starts spouting off “facts” that are anything but facts. Yes the schools will get a little more tax revenue, but the city would have gotten even more tax revenue for decades to come without this “incentive”. Today’s vote no doubt cost the city big money!
D3 Commissioner Bedwell also brought up a good point during the meeting, with all of the talk lately about new arenas and projects, how are we ever going to fund these things if we keep giving away our future tax revenue to businesses that would build here anyway. These commissioners have no problem giving tax breaks to their banker buddies while they get ready to raise your garbage fees, business license fees, and other fees that are being discussed.
D2 Commissioner Kirksey wants $4M to build a new pool in his district, but he doesn’t have a plan to pay for it. He stated in the meeting that this bank was going to bring in 9 high paying jobs. It’s my understanding that this space isn’t going to generate all new jobs but rather relocate people from other Smart Bank locations and maybe a couple new teller positions….and those teller positions won’t be making a lot of money, but I’m sure their VPs who convinced the commission to help fund this pet project will be!
What Dothan residents need to understand is who keeps fighting for them day in and day out, and who keeps showing them they only care about their buddies and helping “the right people” as D5 Commissioner Pierce likes to say. The right people are those with money and power in their eyes, not the everyday people who work hard to make ends meet. Just wait Dothan, the city will claim they need more revenue and will want to raise everything from your electric rates, garbage rates, and license fees. Commissioners Bedwell and Stock appear that they won’t backdown and won’t give away your tax dollars for no reason, even when other commissioners want to joke and say they don’t understand the long game. I think Bedwell and Stock do understand the long game…the long game is taking care of our people and keeping the cost of living low, while encouraging and promoting growth…not giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars for things that would be built anyway. I wonder if those commissioners or mayor who voted for this have any business or accounts with Smart Bank…nobody recused themselves so that might be worth looking into…
3 employees salary of 180,000 and total cost of building in commissioner packet. Commissioners really ought to read their packet.
