Vote yes on tax exemption ordinance for high-wage jobs
By JOHN SHUFF Economic Development
On Nov. 8th, residents will be asked to vote on the renewal of Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption – Ordinance 2022-08, an important tool for attracting new high-wage jobs to our community. As the President of your Wakulla Economic Development Council, we strive to attract new jobs to our community every day that will allow more of us to live and work right here in Wakulla County and allow our children to raise their families here too. We are asking that you vote yes, in support of this ordinance. Here are six facts you need to know:
1. In Wakulla County, many of our residents commute every day to Tallahassee to work. We are exporting one our biggest assets – our people. This ordinance will attract new jobs to Wakulla so that people can live AND work in our community. This means less commuter traffic and more dollars spent here at home to help our small businesses.
2. This ordinance can create jobs. To receive this exemption, a company must provide at least 25 high wage jobs in a targeted industry sector which in Wakulla translates to over $20 an hour in manufacturing-related industries. These are jobs that support families and mean your children can stay here too.
3. High-wage jobs are competitive, and our rural community competes with communities all over the nation for companies that offer these types of opportunities. This specific incentive was created in Florida Statute and is used by cities and counties across the state. If we do not pass this ordinance, Wakulla County is at a disadvantage in our own state.
4. This ordinance does not encourage residential or retail development. While we appreciate all the new businesses in our community, these are a product of new rooftops and neighborhoods. The focus of this tool, and your EDC, is high-wage jobs in manufacturing – not new homes or stores.
5. This exemption applies only to NEW property and equipment for existing businesses and new businesses that locate in our community. The company still pays 100% of all taxes for schools, fire services, water management, children’s services and voter-approved taxes meaning that in addition to new jobs, they are not exempt from the impact they may have on the community.
6. We expect our community to use this tool soon. Unlike the past ten years, we now have staff at our EDC actively promoting our community for companies that will provide good paying jobs. It takes a while sometimes for these opportunities to come together but this will be an important tool that we need to keep in our toolbox to make this happen.
Bottom-line, our extended families help to weave the fabric that makes Wakulla County a special place. Good jobs foster strong families which create a strong community; we need to keep this tool in our toolbox.
Please vote yes on the renewal of the Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption – Ordinance 2022-08.
John Shuff is President of the Wakulla Economic Development Council.