City of Decorah's tax abatement program will go into effect soon

On a 4-3 vote, the Decorah City Council has approved a third reading of a resolution to offer tax abatements to property owners who build new single family houses or new multiple family developments or property owners who make significant additions to their existing housing.

The new program will now go into effect as soon as the complete resolution is published.

Once again Monday night, the Decorah City Council voted 4-3 in favor of the resolution, with Chuck Lore, Bill Wagner and Paul Wanless opposing it.

Before the vote was taken, Decorah resident Marlene Fensterman told the city council its previous actions did not show much senisitivity to longtime residents.  She said older residents won't benefit from the tax abatements, since they can't afford to build big new houses.