People looking to build new homes in Cottonwood County have enjoyed tax benefits for the past six years.
Now, after two three-year cycles, the home initiative program is up for renewal by the Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board heard from Windom City Administrator Steve Nasby, who is the acting Economic Development Authority director for the city.
Nasby noted that the initiative has provided tax abatements for 36 projects in the county, with 12 being outside the Windom city limits.
“Including the Guardian Inn conversion project, the total market value for the properties in the program, to date, is $11.88 million,” Nasby said. “The total five-year abatement for those projects has been $189,860. The county has gotten a very good return on its investment for the program.”
The board questioned how the program would handle one of the latest building trends, which is a combined house and shop project, or a “shouse.”
County Assessor Gale Bondhus said that shouses currently do not meet qualification standards for the program.
The board requested information to see if other counties were including shouses as part of their incentive program, and tabled action on renewing the program until it had that information.
More information on Tuesday’s meeting appears in the Oct. 19 print and e-editions of the Citizen.
