Proposed Bright TIF Would Improve Quality of Life, Help Preserve Area’s Rural Identity

TIF is a commonly used local government revenue tool which captures a portion of property taxes to fund infrastructure projects.

(Bright, Ind.) – The Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission (DCRC) is proposing a tax increment finance (TIF) district to create a new funding mechanism to ensure a portion of property tax dollars remain in Bright to fund infrastructure deficiency solutions and placemaking improvements at zero tax increase to property owners.

TIF is a commonly used local government revenue tool which captures a portion of property taxes to fund infrastructure projects, public amenities, public safety, and workforce development programs. In Indiana, redevelopment commissions are granted the power to create TIF districts to remove barriers to identified goals aligned with the local government’s comprehensive plan.

In 2022, the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners received a 1.0-acre piece of property on Professional Park Drive in Bright at no cost as part of the sale of the former Dearborn County Hospital. Seeking to return the property to the tax rolls and reduce taxpayer expense for maintaining the property, the Board of Commissioners deeded the property in 2023 to DCRC, a body of the county government. Upon taking ownership, DCRC began to recognize the site and nearby areas in the heart of the Bright commercial district as beginning to fall into disrepair due to lingering deficiencies in unmaintained private roads and stormwater drainage. Recognizing the hardship these issues were having on property owners, DCRC hired an engineering firm which analyzed the matter, recommended possible solutions, and estimated project costs at roughly $217,000.

The TIF has been proposed by DCRC as a tool to create a stream of revenue to further engineer and address the infrastructure deficiencies which may otherwise not be solved. The revenues would come from property taxes paid on any increased assessments that may occur after the creation of the TIF district within the district boundaries, which generally targets commercial parcels along Stateline Road from Bright Meadows Park to near Salt Fork Road, as well as parcels along Jamison Road from Professional Park Drive to just past Sonoma Lane.

Beyond the infrastructure needs, DCRC believes the proposed Bright TIF could fund placemaking projects to improve the community’s aesthetics such as streetscaping, sidewalks, public gathering spaces, park improvements, or other amenities supported by the community. Additionally, the TIF could provide support for retention or expansion of small businesses which fit and compliment community needs and existing neighborhoods.

DCRC is helping the public to understand the goals and mechanics of the proposed TIF district with the following Frequently Asked Questions. Additional questions on the Bright TIF proposal may be directed to Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission President Jim Deaton, jimd6@comcast.net, or legal counsel Anthony Smart, asmart@anthonysmart.com.