Sunday, April 28, 2024
Should Hood County agree to tax abatements to bring more jobs and industry here, or is the community already so appealing that businesses will come without special favors given by local government?
That question was posed by some who spoke at a recent regular meeting of the Commissioners Court where the county judge and commissioners considered adopting the 2023-2025 Hood County Tax Abatement Guidelines, a 20-page document.
The court decided unanimously to table the matter for further study.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Nannette Samuelson made the motion to table, stating that perhaps the court should either consider not offering tax abatements at all or making guidelines “much more robust so that people who want to apply for a tax abatement will know exactly what their responsibilities are.”
Samuelson expressed the view that Hood County will undoubtedly continue to grow and that “businesses will follow the people and people will follow jobs.”
She stated, “The government needs to get out of the way and let the economy grow.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Dave Eagle seconded her motion.
“I’m not sure we should be in the abatement business,” he said. “I’m not sure we should be in the ‘bring in more business’ business.”
He echoed Samuelson’s view, stating, “The best thing the government can do is get the heck out of the way.”
