A Columbus resident is questioning whether the city has legal authority to use tax increment financing dollars to support the renovation of a former newspaper office as part of a project by Indiana University.
Ken Fudge, who appeared last week before the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, contends that it is illegal under state statutes for the city to allocate $1 million in TIF dollars since the project involves IU, not the city.
A city official disputes that notion, however.
The decision by the city to spend TIF dollars on the project had already been reviewed by attorneys, said Heather Pope, city redevelopment director.
“What we’re doing is within the realm of our spending authority,” Pope said.
The city has committed to providing $1 million, half the amount that is expected to be needed toward the renovations, which are expected to take place in mid-June. Indiana University announced plans in April that it would house its master of architecture program in the former Republic building this fall.
Columbus Regional Health purchased the former Republic building two years ago from the Rayanna Corp., a local company established by the Brown-Marshall family, which previously owned the newspaper.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
