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December 18, 2017 News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Rogers Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce 101 N. Farwell Street, Suite 101 Eau Claire, WI (715) 858-0616 Eau Claire Chamber Files Amicus Brief Supporting City of Eau Claire in TIF Appeal EAU CLAIRE, WI - The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has filed an Amicus Brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, supporting the City of Eau Claire in its defense of an appeal by opponents of the Confluence Project. The case, Voters with Facts v. City of Eau Claire, challenges the use of Tax Increment Financing as part of the project’s local funding. The Supreme Court appeal comes after district and appeals courts ruled in favor of the City. The Chamber’s brief points out the significant debate and scrutiny TIFs were subjected to in “the political and legislative decisions made by voters and their representatives,” which it argues is the appropriate place for such decisions, not the courts. “There was a huge amount of public scrutiny and political debate regarding the Confluence Project, including scrutiny and debate on whether TIF was appropriate. That culminated in two public referendums. The voters favored going forward with the project, by comfortable margins. Subjecting the complex, subjective, policy-heavy determinations that went into the decision to create/amend the TIF districts at issue and that went into the negotiation of a development agreement to the sort of judicial review Petitioners seek would put courts in a role they are ill-suited to fill. It would also encourage opponents who lose in the political arena, like Petitioners in this case, to attack development projects with protracted and costly litigation.” The Chamber also cites the critical role TIF districts have played in the revitalization of downtown Eau Claire. “TIF has played a significant role in what has already been a remarkable revitalization of downtown Eau Claire. A court judgment impeding the development underway in the TIF districts at issue would put at risk the momentum and optimism that has developed and steadily grown over the past decade, both in the Eau Claire business community and the community at large.” The Eau Claire Chamber is 102 years old and has over 1,200 members. Its purpose is to further business and community development in the Eau Claire area. The full brief filed by the Chamber can be accessed at this link: https://tinyurl.com/TIFbriefECC Because of the statewide implications for economic development, several other parties have also indicated they are filing Amicus Briefs in support of the City, including the Wisconsin REALTORS Association, City of Milwaukee, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, City of Madison, Wisconsin Towns Association, and the State of Wisconsin. ### About the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is the advocate of business. The Eau Claire Chamber is proud to be part of the Eau Claire community for 100 years. More than 1,200 businesses and organizations pride themselves as being members of the Eau Claire Chamber. "Our Community is Our Business"
December 18, 2017 News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Rogers Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce 101 N. Farwell Street, Suite 101 Eau Claire, WI (715) 858-0616
Eau Claire Chamber Files Amicus Brief Supporting City of Eau Claire in TIF Appeal
EAU CLAIRE, WI - The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has filed an Amicus Brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, supporting the City of Eau Claire in its defense of an appeal by opponents of the Confluence Project. The case, Voters with Facts v. City of Eau Claire, challenges the use of Tax Increment Financing as part of the project’s local funding. The Supreme Court appeal comes after district and appeals courts ruled in favor of the City. The Chamber’s brief points out the significant debate and scrutiny TIFs were subjected to in “the political and legislative decisions made by voters and their representatives,” which it argues is the appropriate place for such decisions, not the courts. “There was a huge amount of public scrutiny and political debate regarding the Confluence Project, including scrutiny and debate on whether TIF was appropriate. That culminated in two public referendums. The voters favored going forward with the project, by comfortable margins. Subjecting the complex, subjective, policy-heavy determinations that went into the decision to create/amend the TIF districts at issue and that went into the negotiation of a development agreement to the sort of judicial review Petitioners seek would put courts in a role they are ill-suited to fill. It would also encourage opponents who lose in the political arena, like Petitioners in this case, to attack development projects with protracted and costly litigation.” The Chamber also cites the critical role TIF districts have played in the revitalization of downtown Eau Claire. “TIF has played a significant role in what has already been a remarkable revitalization of downtown Eau Claire. A court judgment impeding the development underway in the TIF districts at issue would put at risk the momentum and optimism that has developed and steadily grown over the past decade, both in the Eau Claire business community and the community at large.” The Eau Claire Chamber is 102 years old and has over 1,200 members. Its purpose is to further business and community development in the Eau Claire area. The full brief filed by the Chamber can be accessed at this link: https://tinyurl.com/TIFbriefECC Because of the statewide implications for economic development, several other parties have also indicated they are filing Amicus Briefs in support of the City, including the Wisconsin REALTORS Association, City of Milwaukee, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, City of Madison, Wisconsin Towns Association, and the State of Wisconsin.
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About the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is the advocate of business. The Eau Claire Chamber is proud to be part of the Eau Claire community for 100 years. More than 1,200 businesses and organizations pride themselves as being members of the Eau Claire Chamber.
"Our Community is Our Business"