To prepare Somers for a new and initial tax incremental financing district (TIF), Janet Cushing, Town of Somers Deputy Clerk/Treasurer/Accountant, attended the 2014 Ehlers Wisconsin Public Finance Seminar held February, 2014 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.  Janet said “I gained important knowledge on how municipalities establish and administer tax increment financing districts at the seminar.”  Additional topics included tools, techniques, and case studies relating to economic development, and other sources of providing assistance in development such as Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grants,  Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) programs and county programs to name a few.  Janet commented, “attending this seminar prepares Somers for our first TIF project”.  Cushing’s main job responsibility since being hired in 2013 is to oversee the financial activity of the town.
 
On October 30, 2013, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed Special Senate Bill 3 which expanded the authority of the Town of Somers in Kenosha County to create tax incremental financing districts. 
 
Town Administrator William Morris noted that since the signing of Special Senate Bill 3, he has met with multiple developers and site selectors to discuss commercial development in Somers and they all ask about our ability to offer a TIF, a vital financial tool for developers.  “Development today requires public-private financial partnerships and Somers has the tools in place today to act quickly,” Morris said.  “As a community, Somers has taken the necessary steps to attract developers and compete aggressively in the marketplace.”

By Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson