Dear Editor:
It was with dismay that I read comments from Vivek Puri in the paper last Thursday where he suggests the lack of support from JCPS for his tax abatement request was "a purely discriminatory process from the school board against the Puri Group because of who we are." After reflection, I cannot be upset with him as he and the Puri Group have a lot at stake; millions of dollars in tax abatements. The Puri Group likely has not followed issues related to our Jefferson City Public Schools, either.
I am disappointed that one of the Jefferson City councilman has stated to the News Tribune his readiness to dismiss JCPS opposition to the Truman TIF "as the school district didn't have any issues with the TIF at the Capital Mall "
To both the Puri Group and the City Council, I would point out that since the TIF Commission approved the Capital Mall proposal in October 2013, six of the seven school board members serving and the superintendent of schools have been replaced. The school board is in the process of approving a policy regarding TIF Commission service and actions by JCPS representatives. The new policy addresses the need for the entire board to be involved in discussion.
As an individual school board member, I can attest that the current board and superintendent have engaged in active discussion and due diligence regarding the current TIF proposal. I personally have attended many meetings outside of school board meetings, researched legislation, finance, property and corporate records, consulted a charter financial analyst, and listened to all sides. The school board held two special meetings to discuss the TIF in addition to discussions held during regular business meetings.
Much of this was documented contemporaneously on my website, www.pammurray.org starting in late March 2016. JCPS staff have done extensive research as well and from my observation, the board has done due diligence and rendered a decision based on the proposal materials presented and the best interests of the school district.
Different levels of local government have different concerns and needs and each must make decisions accordingly. But please don't base your decision on actions of officials who are now no longer in office. JCPS is entering its second year of deficit spending for operational costs and we have many unmet needs. Getting the JCPS budget under control is made much more difficult when our neighbors at City Hall have sweeping control over property taxes, our principal source of revenue.