The Catoosa County Economic Development Authority invests in land to generate tax revenue, not give it away.
Northwest Georgia Technical College needs a suitable site to build a satellite campus in Catoosa County. And while the prospect of the college coming to an industrial park on Alabama Highway/state Route 151 might suit the needs of higher education, it would cost taxpayers more than $2 million now and additional revenue for years to come.
Suggestions that 50 acres of prime commercial real estate be given to the state college seem to run counter to why the county bought the land in the first place, according to CCEDA board Chairman Randall Peters.
Peters said the county government borrowed $2 million to buy the parcel located at Holcomb Road as an investment for taxpayers.
“The whole idea was to generate tax dollars,” he said. “The development authority would like to see Georgia Northwestern have a campus in the county, but that land is removed from the tax rolls forever if we give it to the college – and we would still owe money on it.