State legislator: Special collections not always used as intended

A proposal for a new Greenwood aquatic center helped inspire legislation that would restrict where communities can spend tax dollars collected in special taxing districts.

A proposal by State Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, would require money collected in tax-increment financing districts, or TIF districts, to be spent within the areas from which the tax money is raised. Greenwood, Indianapolis and other communities have been using those tax dollars to pay for projects elsewhere, such as a proposed Freedom Park aquatic center that will be miles away from either of Greenwood’s TIF districts.

Smith said the proposal to spend up to $10 million in tax dollars from TIF districts on a new Greenwood pool was one of the main reasons he sponsored the bill.

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