Starke County Council Looks into Tax Abatement Forms

Posted on November 21, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The Starke County Council members will work harder to review CF-1 forms for those companies approved for tax abatement measures.

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Larry Wickert said he will help remind officials of when those documents should be reviewed.  The CF-1 forms include several key benchmarks which companies should reach based on their agreement for tax abatement, which is typically eight years.  Those requirements may include the number of employees promised to be hired and their salaries, plus investment.

A tax abatement is a reduction of taxes for a time period as an incentive to improve a business. 

The problem is the council members haven’t been reviewing those documents like they should have been for many years.

Assessor Michelle Schouten noted that the CF-1 forms are received in her office and the Starke County Auditor’s office. Companies are legally required to turn in those papers by May 15 to the assessor and the auditor.  The county council members then have 45 days to review those papers to make a ruling on whether or not the company is substantially compliant or non-compliant with what is outlined in the tax abatement documents.

If the council doesn’t review those and declare if the company is non-compliant or compliant within 45 days, the company is automatically deemed compliant.

Council President Dave Pearman noted that all CF-1 forms will be reviewed as required by the county council in June of 2020.