This year's residential tax abatement program in Decorah has created $6.7 Million in construction

Decorah City Administrator Chad Bird says this year's residential tax abatement program in the city has generated a total of at least $6.7 million in construction activity.

The Decorah City Council Monday night approved tax abatements for 15 applications for new housing starts, totaling $5.7 million.  The housing projects are eligible for the full five year, 100 percent abatement of property taxes above the initial value of the land:

a.      Ruth Stortz, 807 Serenity Court (completed September 2016)
b.      Mike & Deb Schacherer, 809 Serenity Court (completed September 2016)
c.      Linda Langland, 607 Stapleton Drive (completed July 2016)
d.      Lanny & Carolyn Seaton, 1311 Division  (completed June 2016)
e.      Carol Wilkinson, 1502 Jordan Drive (completed September 2016)
f.       High Point East, LLC, 1711 East Hill Road (completed September 2016)
g.      Gerald & Trudy Fox, 721 Serenity Court (completed July 2016)
h.      Jeff Allison, 2403 Red Oak Road (completed September 2016)
i.       Lonnie & Beverly Brown, 605 Stapleton Drive (completed July 2016)
j.       Mark Carolan / Rick Swenson, 407 Mound Street, Unit #2 (completed August 2016)
k.      Mark Carolan / Jo & Dean Tollefson, 407 Mound Street, Unit #1 (completed August 2016)
l.       Jayme Folkedahl, 602 East Water Street (completed October 2016)
m.     Jayme Folkedahl, 606 East Water Street  (completed November 2016)
n.      Jonathan & Sara Carlson, 1107 Linden Street (completed May 2016)
o.      Brenton Formanek, 1007 Bruening Drive (completed November 2016)

The city council also approved tax abatements for improvements or rehabilitations to existing structures totaling $1 million.  The home improvement projects must increase the value of the property by more than 10 percent of the existing value.  Final valuation determination is set by the county assessor:

1)  Joel & Constance Johnson, 505 5th Avenue (completed October 2016)
2)  Brandon & Nikki Brevig, 310 Day Street (completed March 2016)
3)  Greg Bruening, 616 Crushing Heights Drive (completed August 2016)
4)  Kim & Andy Bonnet, 117 West Water Street (completed August 2016)
5)  Mary Murphy, 805 Clearview Drive (completed May 2016)

Bird says there are several other housing projects currently going on which might qualify for this year's tax abatement program, which would increase the total value of new construction even further.