By Valerie Baldowski
vbaldowski@henryherald.com

County leaders will meet with a state legislator to discuss how tax allocation districts (TADs) can lead to future development in Henry County.

State Sen. Gail Buckner (D-Jonesboro) will hold a town hall meeting Saturday, at 10 a.m., to discuss the districts. The meeting will be held at the Henry County Administration Building, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough.

Buckner said she is unfamiliar with how tax allocation districts operate, and the purpose of the meeting will be to learn specific details.

“I, and other citizens, are in need of information,” she said. “It is important to have information when you ask for legislation. This has not been discussed in a [legislative] delegation meeting.”

Other local governments, such as Gwinnett and Newton counties, have TADs in place, said Buckner. She said she would like to explore the possibility of establishing them in Henry County.

Buckner said the Henry County Commission asked the Henry County Legislative Delegation to create the districts, but legislators have not yet discussed the topic.

Henry County Development Authority Executive Director Bob White is scheduled to provide information about the TADs, as requested by the Henry County Board of Commissioners.

Since 1985, Georgia’s “Redevelopment Powers Law” has allowed communities to create TADs to encourage investment and development in a targeted geographic area, according to the development authority’s legal counsel.

Before acquiring the ability to use the Redevelopment Powers Law, a county or municipality must first obtain local legislation in the General Assembly, then obtain voter approval through a referendum on the issue, according to the development authority.

Growth and investment can be encouraged by “pledging the increase in the property tax valuation” for infrastructure and other improvements in the district. That can be accomplished on a “pay as you go” basis, or through the issuance of bonds, according to the development authority.