The World Is Watching: Chattanooga’s “Crony Capitalism” Story Gets Picked Up By Associated Press

The National Spotlight Is Picking Up On the Injustices and Inequity that Chattanooga, Tennessee Has Been Trying to Sweep Under the Rug for Far Too Long Now… Chattanooga Citizen Activist Helen Burns Sharp’s Fight Against Unbridled Tax Breaks for Wealthy Developers Is Reported by Associated Press (AP) and Featured on ABC News.

ABC News: “Chattanooga Woman Fights City Over Open Records”

A citizen-versus-city battle is being waged in Chattanooga by an open government activist who is challenging the process involved in giving tax breaks to private companies seeking to build or expand operations in the city.

Helen Burns Sharp says she has spent about $100,000 of her own money in legal fees as she questions the approval of tax increment financing of $9 million — plus interest — for developers who planned to build a road in a golf course subdivision known as Black Creek Mountain. She maintains that the process of granting financial incentives such as tax breaks to companies is not transparent and not subject to enough public input in this river city.

Local governments use methods like tax increment financing (TIF) or payment in lieu of taxes programs (PILOT) to attract new businesses and the jobs they bring to a community. A TIF allows local governments to use money generated from increases in property taxes to finance costs needed to attract development. Cities around the country use TIF to improve infrastructure and rebuild blighted areas.

“It’s not that TIFs are inherently bad, but make sure when you’re doing these you know what basis you’re deciding to do it on and also that you make sure that the public interest is protected in whatever agreement you come up with,” she said…

Sharp says she first started following the progression of the TIF plan in 2012. She says the tax incentive seemed like an unnecessary gift to a private company for a project that was going to generate few if any jobs and divert money from more necessary projects with greater public benefit…

Sharp attended council meetings, filed open records requests and sent emails inquiring about the approval process. She hired an attorney and eventually sued the City Council, the County Commission and Chattanooga’s Industrial Development Board, claiming the project was not eligible for funding under the TIF statute in Tennessee law…

“I was taking on the power structure,” she said.

We believe Helen Burns Sharp should run for Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee. We’ve had enough corruption, cronyism, and back-room deals. We need someone honest and not afraid to stand up for what is right.

#SpeakTruthToPower

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