A land bank is an organization which returns land that is non-revenue generating back to tax-producing status. Local governments, usually a county, school board and at least one city within the county, form them to buy vacant and foreclosed “blight” properties. Multiple counties can also band together to form a single land bank.
The BOC discussed during its work session the demolition of two condemned properties in the county. Guider began her presentation by noting that each property could benefit from a land bank.
“A land bank would have been very beneficial for both particular pieces of property,” Guider said. “We’re going to see more and more of this. I really do believe that.”
Guider emphasized in her presentation that land banks focus on redevelopment of “underutilized, vacant, blighted and tax-delinquent properties.”
“This is property nobody else wants,” Guider said. “Such as what we had this morning where the owner walked off.”
To illustrate the need for a land bank, Guider cited a tax sale in December where Douglas County Tax Commissioner Todd Cowan had 41 pieces of property for sale and sold only 14. She said a land bank could have bid on properties and “flipped” them though, for example, donating them to the Habitat for Humanity or converting them into community gardens.
Land banks acquire property though tax foreclosures, minimum bids or credit bids, Guider explained. Banks, government entities and private companies can also donate properties. The land bank’s board would need to approve the purchase of any property, the board would be subject to open meetings and records and it would not have the power of eminent domain.
BOC Chairman Tom Worthan raised concern that donated property from banks would hurt the county’s tax digest.
“It would [hurt the tax digest] for a short while while the land bank has it,” Guider responded. “But then they would flip it into profitable property.”
Block grants often fund land bank projects, along with some neighborhood stabilization funds. Guider noted that existing land banks could aid in the process of starting one locally. A land bank is “just another tool,” said Guider, to aid the county in getting through tough economic times and it can be dissolved when no longer needed
The other BOC members peppered Guider with questions following the presentation, raising concerns about what constitutes a blight property, the danger of nullifying higher bids from third parties and potential moral hazards, among other issues.
Mulcare suggested the BOC speak with government officials in nearby county which have started land banks.
“This is very interesting to me,” Worthan said. “I’ll have to do some more reading.”
Guider learned about land banks when she attended Frank Alexander’s seminar at Harvard University nearly a year ago.
Alexander, who Guider knew from her time as tax commissioner, is an Emory University professor currently working with state legislators on SB 284, a bill that would change land bank laws Georgia. Sara Toering, a Senior Visiting Fellow at Emory who has also worked with Alexander, was on hand for the presentation.
In Georgia, communities already supporting land banks include Rome/Floyd County, Griffin/Spalding County, Macon/Bibb County, Valdosta/Lowndes County, Atlanta/Fulton County, Athens/Clarke County and Columbus/Muscogee County. Guider has said she waited until the new Douglasville city government leaders were sworn in to move forward with the idea.
The full agenda for today’s BOC meeting at 10 a.m. in Citizen’s Hall at the county courthouse:
• Proclamation declaring the month of February 2012 as American Heart Month in Douglas County.
• Proclamation declaring Feb. 7, 2012 as Career and Technical Education Week in Douglas County.
• Authorization to approve a renewal agreement with Sustain Technologies for the continued maintenance of the Case Management System used by the five Courts of the Douglas County Judicial Circuit and authorize the Chairman to sign all related documents.
• Authorization to accept Grant Consultant, Robin Bishop’s 2012 contract and authorize Chairman to sign all necessary documents.
• Authorization to approve an agreement with Benefits Law Group and authorize the Chairman to sign all related documents subject to legal review.
• Authorization to accept a check from the Sheriff’s Office Asset Forfeiture Account to cover the 2012 rental of the SID building.
• Authorization to approve the Target Area map for NSP 3 (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) and submit to HUD for acceptance.
• Reappointment of Ron Wilson and Ronald Camp to the Douglas County Development Authority Board effective immediately through 2/1/2016.
• Reappointment of Joyce Wren to the Douglas County Tourism and History Commission effective immediately through 12/31/2014.
• Appointment of Elaine Steere and Rochelle Robinson to the Douglas County Tourism and History Commission effective immediately through 12/31/2014.
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