STARKVILLE — The Golden Triangle Development LINK is asking the city to boost a business’s expansion with a tax exemption.
Joe Max Higgins, CEO for the LINK, told the board aldermen at its Friday work session that the expansion — dubbed “Project Squeeze” — is worth $9.5 million and will create about 20 jobs.
Higgins confirmed to The Dispatch following the session that the tax exemption request is for an existing business, but he declined to name the business or what it does.
He asked the board to consider granting the business a 10-year exemption on ad valorem taxes, also known as property taxes. He said he will ask the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors to do the same.
The company would save about $33,000 per year in city taxes and about $56,000 per year in county taxes, should each board approve the exemption. Those amounts will depreciate over the 10-year period.
“The project will still have to pay school tax” for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, he added, which comes out to about $68,000 per year.
Aldermen placed the request on its consent agenda for Tuesday’s regular meeting, meaning it can pass without further discussion. Higgins plans to pitch the request to county supervisors Tuesday afternoon.
NorthStar expansion
Higgins also told the board the LINK had secured $2.5 million in state grant funds for a new 200,000 square foot pad at NorthStar Industrial Park.
The new pad would be located off U.S. 82 near the Louisville exit and be marketed to new businesses.
Higgins said the city and county would need to chip in $280,000 total as matching funds, and he said the assumption is that the two would split the amount evenly. He added that the city has enough funds remaining from its bond issue it used to build the park.
NorthStar currently has one active tenant, Garan Manufacturing. Amazon is also preparing to open a “last mile” facility in the park. There is an unused 100,000 square-foot pad in the park as well.
Pause on camera ordinance
Aldermen will hold a second public hearing Tuesday on the city’s proposed camera ordinance for businesses, but a vote on the ordinance is being held off as leaders seek more feedback.
The ordinance would require businesses with 5,000 square feet or more of building space or 25 or more parking spaces to install security cameras in parking lots, entrances and exits. Some business owners have pushed back on the ordinance, citing costs of maintaining the camera systems.
However, those size requirements are proving to be flexible, and Mayor Lynn Spruill told the board she is considering making changes after conversations with Starkville Police Chief Mark Ballard.
“Upon looking at the number of people who would be impacted or businesses who would be impacted, I think probably 10,000 square feet and 50 parking spaces is a better fit for us,” she said.
Spruill told The Dispatch following the meeting that more research is needed to determine how many businesses would be affected by both size proposals.
Other changes have been finalized for the proposed ordinance. The city would create a database of properties subject to the ordinance and the establishment of a biannual inspection certification and confirmation schedule.
Kevin Edwards is news editor and reports on Starkville and Oktibbeha County government.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
