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County Council "Own It In Allen" Plan Is Scrapped

By John W. Davis
June 18, 2010 Updated Feb 9, 2010 at 6:40 PM EST FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) – An Allen County Council proposal to entice General Motors transfer workers to buy homes in Allen County has been scrapped. The “Own It In Allen” proposal would have made a $1,000 tax credit available to up to 700 workers if they purchased a home in Allen County in the next 18 months. Councilman Darren Vogt brought the idea to the Allen County council in late January. County leaders would have used a $700,000 tax abatement fund to sponsor the tax credits. However, a special committee took a closer look and decided the proposal did not make financial sense for the county. County leaders say their study showed 400 of the 700 new GM workers would have bought a home or rented in Allen County regardless of tax incentives. “We didn't spend a lick of taxpayer's dollars and we actually went out and analyzed the plan and said, hey it's just not going to work. That's a good thing. That's how government should work, said Allen County Councilman Darren Vogt. County leaders also say GM transfer workers from Michigan are coming from an upside down housing market. “Some of these folks may be coming here and not able to purchase a home due to the fact that they're relocating from (a) depressed area from a housing standpoint. We really had a limited market to work with and just thought it really wasn't the best time for this kind of idea,” said Vogt. County Council will now discuss using the money to create shovel-ready sites. The $700,000 tax fund would go towards turning vacant land into sites that are ready for immediate construction. Officials say the shovel-ready sites would attract the growth of new business in Allen County.
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