Laserfiche WebLink
702 <br /> <br /> will be pursuing actions adverse to economic development, such as the abolition <br /> of the economic development sales tax or stricter regulation of how it is <br /> expended. Mr. Vest said that Mark Homer is going to reintroduce a bill that he <br /> has introduced before that specifically says that an economic development <br /> corporation cannot do retail development. He said when the Business Journal <br /> comes out this week, there will be a letter from him talking about the economic <br /> development sales tax and the proper uses of that tax. Mr. Vest said that he is the <br /> Vice President of the Texas Economic Development Sales Tax Association and <br /> that the organization is attempting to police and control the abuses. He said <br /> Senator Ratliff is going to address this matter at the Texas Economic <br /> Development Council meeting in Austin next week. <br /> <br /> Director Guest asked Why there are no penalties for not following the law. Mr. <br /> Vest informed him that in the statutes there are no provisions for enforcement or <br /> overseeing of the proper use of the sales tax. Some legislators want to place a <br /> regulatory agency over the program. Mr. Vest said that regulatory oversight <br /> would probably be with the Department of Economic Development and that will <br /> not be good. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vest advised that at the last legislative session, the Legislature came out with <br /> a new training requirement and that he and the City Attorney will be required to <br /> attend. If the City Attorney does not attend, then the City Manager will have to <br /> attend the training. He said the Department of Economic Development will be <br /> conducting this training and they are going to have a trial run at the TEDC <br /> meeting that he and Eric will be attending next week. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vest reported that Jim Nelson was given the task of surveying the property <br /> for the Northwest Industrial Park. At this point, Mr. Nelson has not completed <br /> the survey. Mr. Vest advised that after the survey is received, he will be going <br /> out for bids for an architectural firm to help with the design of the industrial <br /> park. After this is done, they will start clearing the land. <br /> <br /> After discussion of the need for the Survey, it was the consensus of the Board that <br /> Mr. Vest write a letter to Mr. Nelson requesting that he have the survey to Mr. <br /> <br /> <br />