Members of the Senate Interim Committee on Tax Increment Financing got into some hot debate over the 14 items it put into a report that recommends some legislative changes to the TIF laws for the coming session. Probably the most hotly-contested issue was over the definition of blight. Senator Chuck Gross says too many communities are using the term blight to justify giving taxpayer dollars for developments. In a split vote, the Committee approves recommending lawmakers redefine blight, over the objection of committee chairman Senator John Griesheimer of Washington. Griesheimer feels so passionate about it, he declines to sign the Committee’s report, despite chairing the group. He vows to kill any legislation that defines blight, including bills dealing with eminent domain’s definition of blight.
