Editorial: Regional port's TIA proposal is opportunistic, harmful
TIA would divert over $100 million in tax revenues from critical county services
As Chelan County commissioners, we strongly support economic development. When done correctly, economic development can benefit an entire region by creating sustainable jobs, generating positive tax revenues, and funding critical services. Economic growth has a trickle-down effect that can touch us all, even lowering property taxes when that tax burden is spread across more property owners.
Unfortunately, the recent proposal by the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority to form a Tax Increment Area (TIA) in Malaga was developed quietly amongst itself and its consultants. The regional port’s TIA design, strategically drawn around an already growing and dynamic area, is not economic development. It is opportunistic and harmful.
The regional port estimates that its proposed 3,326-acre TIA will divert $103.6 million over the next 25 years from county programs and services and redirect property tax revenues from some of the most promising new businesses to ever come to Chelan County, including Microsoft and the Helion fusion plant, both of which are already under construction. TIA authority was designed as a tool to spur economic development in distressed areas, not to cherry-pick already developing areas immediately prior to their property values being established.
So why is the regional port not looking to infuse new funding into Manson, Peshastin or Dryden, areas in unincorporated Chelan County that would benefit from a boost in jobs and infrastructure? The answer is simple: If Microsoft constructs its six buildings as planned, that property alone will be valued at about $2.4 billion, making it one of the largest investments in the history of Chelan County.
Tax increment plan compromises critical county services
A Malaga TIA would swiftly scoop up these high property and new construction values without investing years of work in other areas. Redirecting the future property tax revenues to the regional port’s coffers would expand the port’s operations to the detriment of critical services the county is mandated to provide.
TIAs, when done as an opportunistic venture and not as a viable way to help a struggling area, actually have the potential to harm local county government and those junior taxing districts in the TIA. Put simply, TIAs divert money from a county’s operations and place it into capital projects – capital projects the county has no say over.
If the regional port’s TIA goes forward, impacts will be felt in areas such as criminal justice services, transportation improvements, county-owned capital facilities, the Sheriff’s Office, veterans’ services, developmental disabilities and mental health services, election administration and more.
Don’t be misled by the proposal’s speculative benefits
The regional port estimates its proposed TIA will generate over $206 million in revenues, acknowledging the $103.6 million diverted from Chelan County. It has said its investment of the Chelan County tax funds will result in a net increase in revenues to the county due to the sales taxes generated from TIA projects. However, remember two things: 1)These estimates involve speculative sales tax revenues over 25 years, and 2)The most significant construction projects, such as Microsoft and Helion, are already in process and will occur anyway, regardless of whether the TIA is implemented. So the regional port’s financial analysis is merely an attempt to justify and rationalize a blatant “money grab” of future Chelan County property tax revenues.
Ignoring a county moratorium would be arrogant, dangerous
The regional port says it has the authority to create a TIA, which is true. But county commissioners also have the authority to institute moratoria or temporary suspensions of future actions. State law allows us to adopt a six-month moratorium, which we did on July 29, prohibiting the creation of any TIAs or projects in our unincorporated areas. County residents deserve the opportunity for their government to complete its due diligence, to determine how a TIA would impact essential county programs and its taxpayers, including how the regional port and county can potentially partner on a TIA.
Our message to the port has been positive and consistent: Let’s work together to form a joint TIA, which shares revenues and decision-making. We can collaborate on a partnership, where both agencies are able to invest money back into the community in ways that we each do best. We have the chance to be leaders in Washington during a time when funding sources are being cut across federal and state programs.
Join us on Sept. 23
We invite you to join us at a public hearing at 11 a.m. on Sept. 23 in the Chelan County Commission chambers, 400 Douglas St. Or go to our website to join via Zoom. Come ready to talk about the moratorium and how diverting $100 million from the county would impact you.
Kevin Overbay, Shon Smith and Brad Hawkins serve as Chelan County Commissioners. This editorial originally appeared in the Wenatchee World.
Last Updated: 09/18/2025 05:15 PM
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The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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