Orange County appears to be willing to get on board for the City of Vidor’s Pride and Progress of awarding tax abatement to new residential construction. The Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement this week to join the economic development program with Vidor.
A question was raised if the county should join Vidor in the program because the city has left the Orange County Economic Development Corporation. The Executive Director for the EDC Jessica Hill believes the program has had a positive impact for Vidor, and she would support it. Hill admits she does not have a lot of experience in abatements for residential properties, but she has noticed what Vidor is trying to do and seen how it has affected residents while building community morale. Hill views abatements as giving away something you do not already have. “If it promotes the opportunity to actually grow, build, and do something better with it then I’m in favor of that,” Hill concluded.
Commissioner David Dubose expressed his desire for the county to expand the program to other municipalities. Dubose would like to make sure that if approved by the county the abatements are not just for the City of Vidor. He said you could bring in all the industry you want, but the big deal is you put rooftops here and get people shopping here. Dubose added, “I’m all for them putting rooftops in Vidor, but I’d like to see that spread out to the rest of the county so whatever we do in this vote I don’t want it to be just for the City of Vidor I’d like it to do whatever we have to do to bring anybody else in with us.”
The commissioner from the Vidor area Jody Crump has thoughts along the same line as Dubose. Crump was not aware of any other cities adopting a similar program like Pride and Progress, but agreed it would be a definite possibility to extend it other municipalities.
Vidor City Manager Mike Kunst and Mayor Robert Viator have presented the program to other taxing entities including several municipalities. Viator informed that the Port District, the Drainage District, and Water District have all joined the program with Vidor. It was mentioned that Bridge City at one time considered a similar program. Bridge City turned it down since the new residential growth there was already booming without it.
County Judge Brint Carlton indicates trying to include unincorporated areas of the county into a program like Pride and Progress probably is not possible. Carlton thinks currently the Commissioners Court could not initiate abatement programs like that in the City of Vidor. Carlton observed that if Orange, or Bridge City or West Orange began a program in those municipalities the Commissioners Court would consider joining them too. “It is okay for us to join in with incorporated areas,” Judge Carlton opined.
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