FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- How much public assistance is too much on the Harrison Square project?

A public hearing is coming up Tuesday regarding tax abatements for one component of the development.

Economic development officials in Mayor Tom Henry's administration are asking Fort Wayne City Council members to ratify a tax abatement on the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel project, that would give the owners of the hotel what amounts to a three million dollar tax break.

The hearing affords the chance to get input from the public on the proposed tax break.

This project has taken a fair amount of criticism from taxpayers; with questions about is it worth the public money invested.

Certain city council members have also raised concerns about whether the hotel needs any more help.

Already, the Grand Wayne Center is turning over two and a half million dollars over ten years to the hotel operators.

Redevelopment Director Greg Leatherman says council would be making a big mistake to pull back on the abatement.

Director Greg Leatherman/Ft. Wayne Redevelopment: " We would be going back on the development agreement that we have signed. It says we will be providing them with tax abatement in the development agreement. While I'm not a lawyer, I would think that they might have grounds for deciding they don't have to go forward with constructing the hotel because we didn't meet our obligations."

Leatherman says without the hotel, the money isn't there to fund the public components of the project; the stadium and parking garage.

Leatherman also says the cost to each individual taxpayer of providing the hotel a tax abatement is practically nothing, while the benefit to the hotel operators would be substantial.

It appears doubtful there are enough votes to cancel out the abatement, but it's still the kind of thing that makes city officials nervous on a project that's already had some problems.