By Pat Culverhouse

Three governmental agencies will be deciding whether a tax exemption is appropriate for a potential solar farm under the parish’s Industrial Tax Exempt Program (ITEP), and the Webster Parish School Board got an update on the request Monday from the parish police jury president.

Jim Bonsall told board members that Birch Creek Development of St. Louis, Missouri was asking for the exemption for its proposed development on 86 acres south of Cotton Valley.

“It will be an investment of $15 million but there will be no full-time employees,” Bonsall said. “There will be temporary jobs during construction, which will take six months to a year.”

Bonsall said ITEP provides for an 80 percent property tax abatement for up to 10 years on new manufacturing investments. Birch Creek is asking for the 80 percent relief, he told board members.

Rough estimates of the potential tax income, on the property as it is now valued, would be between $270,000 to $310,000, Bonsall said.

Bonsall said officials with Birch Creek had indicated failure to receive the ITEP exemption could be “…a deal killer.” But, he pointed out, the company had completed a similar project near Arcadia, “…and they never requested a tax incentive.”

“I’m not sure they fit the intent of ITEP,” he said. “But, the question is do we want a little tax or no tax revenue.”

“But what do we gain if there are no employees?” District 12 school board member Susan Addington asked.

Bonsall said the decision on granting the ITEP abatement lies with the parish school board, police jury and the Sheriff. A decision must be made prior to the next police jury meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, he added.