City, county officials discuss proposed tax abatements for housing construction

City Administrator Chad Bird (center) met Monday with county supervisors

The Decorah City Council will hold a public hearing September 2nd on a proposal to offer tax abatements to people who build new housing within the Decorah city limits.

Ahead of that hearing, City Administrator Chad Bird on Monday visited with county supervisors to discuss the proposal.  Bird told supervisors the proposal was made because Decorah has "aged housing stock" and the tax abatements were seen as a way "to create movement in the housing market."

Supervisors asked several questions about the details of the proposal, but did not take a position on the tax abatements, either in support or in opposition.