City council approves sending east Blaine taxing district study to state for feedback

In a narrow 4-3 vote, Blaine City Council approved sending a study on creating an east Blaine taxing district to the Washington state treasurer for feedback. The taxing district, known as a tax-increment financing district (TIF), could help the city fund $3.5 million worth of infrastructure needed to develop the east Blaine subdivisions of The Ridge at Harbor Hills, East Harbor Hills and Grandis Pond.

The city’s approval of sending the TIF study to the state does not guarantee that a TIF district will be established. The state has 90 days to review the study and is expected to return its feedback by May. Council will then need to consider the state’s recommendations and vote whether it wants to establish a TIF district before June 1, per state requirements. If council is unable to make the decision by June 1, it will need to wait another year to establish the district.

In fall 2021, former city manager Michael Jones first brought TIF to city coun-