Notice in Mercury announcing the Public Hearing on July 13

"East Vincent Board eyes rezoning of Jones Motor tract"

Rural is where we're at, and rural is where it's at

Jones Motor Zoning Amendment Comments

These analyses show clearly that communities benefit more from open space than from ratables. This is largely due to the fact that ratables cannot exist in a vacuum.

MYTH: Big-Box Stores Boost Tax Revenue
FACT: The tax benefits of big-box stores are negated by the cost of providing public services to these developments and declining tax revenue from existing commercial districts.

Graphic Comparison of Big Box Stores

Although many cities assume that the development of shopping centers and big-box stores will yield a financial windfall, the tax benefits often prove to be a mirage.

The theory of ratables sounds good to municipal officials who are struggling to balance a short-term budget. If a commercial development pays more in taxes than it costs in services, then this surplus can be used to hold down the residential property taxes of the residents (their voters.) Officials are often mystified a few years later when their budget is still in trouble, so they seek out another infusion of funds from another good ratable.

Smart Design Standards