Tomorrow, Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. will put before the Augusta Commission’s Administrative Services Committee several proposals to help spur economic development in the city and hopefully provide more affordable and workforce housing units to retain current and attract new residents to the city of Augusta.

“The proposed tax incentives are focused on encouraging developers to make new investments in our city that will benefit working families and businesses as we look to bounce back from the deadliest pandemic in our lifetime,” said Mayor Davis. “We are quickly becoming the cyber security capitol of the nation, with that distinction comes new jobs. When people are considering relocating to the CSRA, when current Augusta residents see an increase in their income, when service members exit the armed forces, or when students graduate from one of our institutions of higher learning, I want them to not only work and dine in the city limits, but live and raise their families here as well.”

The “Housing for Working Families” package includes the following incentives for developers to increase the number of these units in Augusta:

The affordable housing and workforce housing tax break. This is a motion to approve directing the finance department, planning and development department, tax assessor’s office, and any other relevant departments to research and develop a property tax incentive(s), within 90 days, for the creation of new workforce and affordable housing units or developments in order to maintain Augusta’s competitive edge in retaining current and attracting new residents.

The affordable housing for families incentive. This is a motion to approve directing planning and development, the land bank authority, housing and community development, the development authority, the downtown development authority, and any other relevant departments to provide the commission, within 60 days, at least three recommendations on selling city-owned parcels at a reduced appraised value for the sole purpose of developing affordable housing.   

Also included in the package is an amendment to the current zoning ordinance for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), more popularly know as tiny homes. Currently, Augusta does not allow ADUs to be used for residential dwelling, this amendment would allow them to be reclassified for such a purpose.

Mayor Davis stated, “When we talk about the future of housing, seniors aging in place or looking at new ways to care for our loved ones while they maintain a degree of independence, as younger generations look at downsizing, this housing option, which is considered an affordable housing option, should be available for residents.”

Mayor Davis pointed to the news story about the mother who purchased a tiny home for her daughter during the pandemic only to be told it could not be used for residential dwelling in Augusta.

“I’m hopeful that the members of the Augusta Commission share my passion and commitment to making Augusta the best place to live for our residents and providing tax incentives to developers who are working towards that goal as well.” 

In addition to his proposed initiatives to spur the creation of more affordable and workforce housing, Mayor Davis also introduced the organization ‘Renters Choice’ to provide a presentation on their efforts to address upfront move-in costs for renters and provide “equal or greater protection to property owners.”

Mayor Davis, also proposed giving raises to full-time city employees who make less than $30,000. The salary increases would make the minimum any full-time employee could make $30,000. Using data from a news story published earlier this year, the Mayor’s Office determined there were roughly 350 full-time employees making anywhere between approximately $22,000 and $28,000.