TIF justice – a city/county solution

By: Bert Belanger//Guest Columnist//February 7, 2019

Last week, I wrote about the short history of tax increment financing in Oklahoma, as this powerful tool has been constitutional since only 2004.

Now 15 years hence, the spade work has been done (and the timing perhaps finally right) for city and county officials to solve two pressing problems in a unique partnership, using TIF and other tools to transform real estate owned by Oklahoma County in the Oklahoma City metro at two important addresses: 201 N. Shartel Ave. and 5905 Classen Ct. (Classen at Western).

The words “criminal justice reform” came often last month from the lips of new Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt in his State of the City speech, and from new Gov. Kevin Stitt at his inaugural address, as watchwords for efficient and fair government. Over a decade of study and planning for replacing Oklahoma County’s adult jail and the juvenile justice center has already been completed by many caring volunteers, including several blue-ribbon committees. These efforts have always faced and been stymied trying to answer the question: “How can OKC metro voters be convinced to help fund new facilities for criminals, whether adult or juvenile?”

It took me personally many years to understand that neither of these problems, nor this voting proposition, is so simply (or crudely) stated. In contrast to the days when the oft-described money pit on Shartel was built, we now know that many people (and families) affected by incarceration need and deserve much different forms of correction and treatment.

Offering TIF as part of the funding solution would show the voters a creativity that not only tackles the problems, but yields tangible benefits to more people beyond (but including) those behind the bars. By replacing (and moving) both the notorious adult jail and the overcrowded JJC, TIF could help turn this county-owned real estate from money pit to cash cow status, relatively speaking. New, more humane and cost-efficient correction facilities could fit elsewhere, being funded, at least in part, by an ongoing stream of new tax revenues flowing from N. Shartel and N. Western avenues.

Viewing the current Oklahoma County jail and JJC sites as well-located but woefully underdeveloped real estate, city and county officials (several of which are newly elected fresh eyes) should explore TIF as part of a funding package that voters can support.

Bert Belanger is a broker with Adept Commercial Real Estate and a real estate attorney with Riggs Abney (bbelanger@riggsabney.com).