A public hearing for the tax abatement request from Marshall County Life Center, Inc. was held during Monday’s Plymouth Common Council meeting Monday. While the request passed, it was not unanimous.
Marshall County Life Center is a parent company of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation. It is comprised of the new United Way and Community Foundation offices and the Early Learning Childhood Center that is currently under construction between Miller Drive and US 30 west of Plymouth. It’s also part of the Aquatic Center project and was funded in part by the new market tax credits.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi told the city council that while the Life Center is a not-for-profit corporation, it will lease the child care portion of the building to Growing Kids, a for profit entity. The concern was raise that a portion of the facility could be considered a business and could have some property tax liability.
Surrisi said as a way to handle any issues that might arise in the future the 10 year graduated tax abatement would put the property tax issue to rest.
City Councilman Gary Cook has not been in favor of any additional city benefits to the project. He asked if Plymouth residents would receive a discount for their child care since the taxpayers have essentially paid a huge portion of the project.
The city attorney said he did not think any type of discount would be available to city resident but said the facility will offer child care vouchers which will allow more families to be able to afford child care.
The City Council approved the resolution confirming the tax abatement with Cook voting in opposition and Councilman Jeff Houin obtaining because he is president of the United Way Board of Directors.
