Editor,
People in the City of Ridgefield are getting excited about the development of the waterfront — a waterfront park with walkable trails; docks; restaurants and retail stores; entertainment; civic space; infrastructure projects; and some work space. It looks like a fantastic project that will be enjoyed by many when it comes to fruition.
The catch? Where the money comes from.
The Port of Ridgefield is creating a tax area to fund a portion of the development. Here’s the description of the tax area from the Port’s website:
The proposed TIA boundary includes 1,281.8 acres and consists of two subareas. The largest subarea is focused on the Northeast 179th and Northeast 219th Street interchanges with Interstate 5. The smaller subarea is focused on the City of Ridgefield waterfront. The two subareas are connected via public right of way that includes Pioneer Street, Northwest 31st Avenue and NW 209th Street.
Take a look at the Port’s website on the tax increment financing tab under projects. You’ll see a map there that shows how the two areas are connected to pull tax dollars from a big area of unincorporated Clark County to develop the waterfront and portions of downtown Ridgefield.
The tax dollars will be generated for the port as the large subarea around I-5 and 179th/219th appreciates. That is already happening on its own. In fact, if you look closely, you’ll see the South Ridge apartments on 179th have been excluded because they are already developed.
Those tax dollars that would ordinarily fund the fire department, roads in unincorporated Clark County, public safety, etc., won’t be available to support the area as it develops. The port may make some voluntary contributions to some agencies to help fill the gap using tax dollars that should have gone to them through the normal course.
The project is completely unfair to the citizens of unincorporated Clark County and those who are served in the region by the fire department. It is taking tax dollars from unincorporated Clark County and Clark Cowlitz Fire/Fire Department 6 to use them to develop the waterfront and downtown Ridgefield.
Those dollars are badly needed to develop the two-lane country roads into roads that can support the development underway. They are needed by the fire department to provide services throughout the region. The sheriff’s department isn’t adequately staffed and needs those dollars to support growth in the area. This redirection of dollars will make strained budgets even more so.
At the same time, in response to a question about City of Ridgefield financial support for these projects, the port shared that the only financial support was a request by the City to U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for $3 million in federal assistance.
Who gets to decide if this happens? The three port commissioners did on April 10.
The amenities look fantastic, but this funding mechanism is not appropriate. A more equitable approach to development is needed.
Heidi Pozzo
Ridgefield
