Hilligoss: Wicomico County Council is trying to kill the Horizon incentive for development

The Wicomico County Council’s October 1st decision to not accept the Ross’s application for the Horizon tax credit was a slap in the face to the developers, who made significant investments in our county, which the county now will benefit.

My belief is that the county administration should take some responsibility in ensuring that this commitment to the developer under the approved Horizon is made good. The developer, as Attorney Robert Benson stated in the October 1st work session, complied with the criteria of the program, as outlined in Chapter 90-7 of the Wicomico County Code titled “Hotel or Multifamily Residential Development Property Tax Credit”, just late on the application request. (Let it be known that the Wicomico County Finance Department was charged in the legislation to create the tax credit application, as stated in the code, but failed to do so. The county’s other attorney Mr. Illuminati, then blamed The Ross management for asking for the application late and submitting it late, without admitting to the colossal error on the part of the county failing to provide an application. The lack of accountability on the part of the finance department is atrocious.

Let’s agree that it’s important that developers and new businesses want to come to Wicomico County to bring jobs and opportunities for residents here. Far too many large employers have left. It’s only a matter of time before the Perdue family decides that the Salisbury plant is not worth re-investing into due to the age of the facility. Attracting business to our area and ensuring the workforce housing is ready should be a priority for Wicomico County administration and the council.

Perhaps someone needs to remind the council and administration that housing developers are businesses. They create economic activity and jobs. We need workforce housing for future businesses to want to come here.

The Wicomico County Council’s October 1st decision to not accept the Ross’s application for the Horizon tax credit was a slap in the face to the developers, who made significant investments in our county, which the county now will benefit.

Housing is a non-partisan issue that needs bi-partisan support.
Somehow, this county, has made housing political. It should not be. We don’t have enough of the right mix of housing available and we are at crisis level, especially for low-moderate income families. What we do have that is new and vacant, most cannot attain due to lower incomes. (Johnson’s Retreat subdivision as an example at nearly $3,000 month for a 3 bedroom/2 bath home).

Molly Hilligoss, M.B.A.
Salisbury resident

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.