A proposed action to reclaim Luzerne County’s share of an expired tax-break program will be presented to the county council in March, county Manager C. David Pedri said last week.
Pedri told the council he recently met with representatives of Wilkes-Barre, the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and the county Redevelopment Authority to discuss their positions on what should happen to the approximately $3 million in remaining funds.
A Wilkes-Barre Township representative did not attend, but Pedri said he spoke to its solicitor by phone.
The money is from a Tax Incremental Financing, or TIF, program in which the county, school district and township temporarily sacrificed property tax revenue from new development along Highland Park Boulevard and at the Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township to fund infrastructure improvements on Highland Park and Mundy and Coal streets.
Pedri said he argued the county is owed more than $1 million, and others at the meeting stated their positions about resolving the matter.
“Obviously they have some differing views. However, I reiterated that the county objective is to have this TIF closed soon,” Pedri said.
The authority oversaw the TIF on behalf of the taxing bodies but has not released any funds. The city did not give up tax revenue for the TIF but maintains the local 20-percent share of the future Coal Street extension still should be funded.
All representatives agreed to consult with their governing boards to discuss their positions and meet again in 30 days to decide how each is willing to proceed, Pedri said.
“I will come back to council to present the final disposition in March that may include litigation,” Pedri said.
Councilman Rick Williams told Pedri he may support a new TIF for the Coal Street extension, but it’s unclear if a majority would be willing to give up any county receipts for that project.
Echoing past statements, Councilman Stephen A. Urban said the expense of a 280-foot extension of Coal Street over an active railroad line and through the county-owned human services building parking lot on Pennsylvania Avenue is not justified to prevent motorists from traveling an extra block to reach the avenue from Wilkes-Barre Boulevard.
“This project makes no sense whatsoever, none at all,” Urban said.
“I couldn’t disagree with you more,” Williams replied.
Williams said after the meeting it may make sense for taxing bodies to keep a portion of the remaining money — not the full amount — set aside in a new TIF to show the state they are supportive of the extension and serious about keeping the project active.
The state transportation department included the Coal Street extension in its long-range plan of prospective projects, but 2021 is the earliest the project would qualify for 80 percent state funding, officials have said.
Williams said the sudden end of Coal Street at Wilkes-Barre Boulevard is “not welcoming” to visitors and believes the extension could be part of a citywide plan to improve traffic flow and make thoroughfares more amendable for biking and walking.
Pedri said the council will have the final say but noted he does not “want to see any state or federal dollars walk out of Luzerne County in any way, shape or form.”
Pedri
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Pedri
By Jennifer Learn-Andes
jandes@timesleader.com
Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.