2 Jan 2023 The purpose of the Economic Development Corporations is economic development. It is simply job creation, job retention and job training.
2 Jan 2023 The Economic Development Corporations are tax entities allowed by the state and voted into existence by the citizens with an obvious expectation of economic development. The primary revenues are taxes on the citizens.
2 Jan 2023 Many projects have been undertaken by the corporations contrary to the purpose of the Local Government Code Title 12. Some have justified these contrary projects under some undefined "Quality of Life" allowance or exception; however, none have been able to show where this allowance exists in the state laws (Local Government Code).
2 Jan 2023 According to the State Comptrollers Office the two corporations have had $1,974,400 in revenues (mostly taxes) and $1,721,335 in expenditures. There is no record of a job created, retained or trained.
2 Jan 2023 The success in many EDCs has been when the corporations have employed an executive director to carry out the purpose. A fulltime director does come with a price tag, but time and time again, these directors have brought more jobs and to a community that far exceed their cost. They have a singular purpose, are trained and perform that purpose all day, all week, all year. They have no conflict of interest.