School District endorses TIF district for medical complex

The School District 6 Board last week endorsed a measure that would include the Cedar Palace Medical Center and 23 acres surrounding it into the city’s tax increment finance district. The move was made after a presentation by city manager Susan Nicosia who said the TIF monies would be used to help further development on the property, as more medical-centric businesses look to expand at the location.

TIF monies can be used to extend services like water and sewer lines.

A TIF is a way to capture some property tax dollars into a special fund for such projects. It does, however, have an impact on the school district as the district won’t have those tax dollars for its use, though the overall impact is minimal to the school’s tax base.

But TIF districts expire after a few years and the new development would eventually help the district’s tax base and create more jobs.

The vote to endorse the district expansion was unanimous.

In other news:

• A sign at the junior high sparked concern from some parents who claimed it was inappropriate. The sign was meant to welcome all students, but made reference to the LGBQT community, which some parents objected to. The sign was removed, principal Ted Miller said.

• The district accepted the resignation of some longtime assistant coaches of the football team. Jamie Heinz and Bill Coleman have been with the team for several years under coach Jaxon Schweikert.

• The board thanked Michael Nicosia for his years of service to the school district. Nicosia was a longtime superintendent for the district and served on the board for six years. He was edged out in the recent trustee election.