UNDERSTANDING THE DDA

Our Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established in 1991 and is funded from tax increment financing. The DDA captures a portion of County taxes that, without the DDA, would go to the County. The DDA does not have any financial cost to the residents, and does not levy any millage to local residents. If we don’t capture and spend this money in the designated district it will return to the County and be spent elsewhere.  Note:  If the DDA were to dissolve, this would not provide any tax savings to residents.
 
Some of the DDA's goals include Improving the corridor's Design and Appearance, Fostering Collaboration and Promoting the Corridor, Enhancing Greenways, Public Spaces, and Sustainability, and Promoting Business and economic development.
 
In the last year the DDA built Pickleball Courts in the park and added parking, infrastructure improvements and bathrooms to the Pearl Beach Pier.  Funds captured for the DDA are restricted for utilization within the district set forth by the TIFA plan. This area is generalized as the corridor including M-29 from Nook Rd to St. Johns Marsh and Taft Road. The DDA District is comprised from when Pearl Beach Pier was the mail delivery dock. The majority of Township commercial property is in this defined district.
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This had no negative impact on the Township General Fund or the Taxpayers.