Ending business incentives an 'option'

Carson City could look at ending redevelopment business incentives in favor of using the money for infrastructure and special events, Business Development Director Joe McCarthy said Friday.

He said the change could be "prudent" and an "excellent strategy."

Super-

visors will vote on the city's next fiscal year budget and the redevelopment budget Monday.

The redevelopment budget of $1.6 million includes $280,000 for business, special event or infrastructure spending.

Supervisors lifted a moratorium on incentive spending for businesses last week after they adopted McCarthy's guidelines that regulate the incentives.

Applicants looking for support now have to provide financial records, prove their projects will benefit the city and show the project cannot be reasonably funded without city help.

After supervisors adopted the rules, they approved $53,520 for a $487,600 project that will convert a former four-room downtown apartment building into an office.

McCarthy said the city has done a good job of bringing in businesses with the incentive program.

Infrastructure improvements could have a wider benefit now that the city has attracted business, he said. These improvements could include street upgrades, curb and gutter repair, lighting, benches and trash cans.

Mayor Bob Crowell said supervisors shouldn't end any incentive program without first seeing how the new policy works.

But the city has to vet projects better, he said. It also needs to start looking at redevelopment spending differently, he said.

"There ought to be a shift in emphasis toward infrastructure spending," he said.

Supervisor Molly Walt said the city shouldn't end a policy without knowing how it would affect the economy. The focus on downtown needs to continue, she said, and the south end of town has empty buildings to fill.

"There's so much work for redevelopment," she said. "We need to get shopping into Carson City right now."