OTC continues to address housing needs
News | Published on February 27, 2024 at 4:03pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0Big Build program continues in OTC
By Tom Hintgen
Otter Tail County Correspondent
The County Board of Commissioners, on Feb. 13, held a public hearing regarding property tax abatements for nine new housing applications. This is an ongoing program as part of “The Big Build” that reduces a homeowner’s property taxes for a period of time.
“We are addressing the housing needs throughout Otter Tail County,” said County Board Chairman Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood. “This is a good program designed to spur the construction of single homes and two-family homes.”
Mortenson and the other four county commissioners emphasize that it is critical to the success of the local economy to bring new residents to Otter Tail County. They see the need to fill workforce shortages, and to do so there must be a greater supply of available housing.
A major goal of the program is to increase the tax base through a rebate of property taxes on newly constructed homes and inspire people to replace dilapidated housing structures within the county.
In agreement with this goal are Mortenson and the other four county commissioners who are Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids, Dan Bucholz of Perham, Bob Lahman of Parkers Prairie and Lee Rogness of Fergus Falls.
The Big Build is the county’s housing growth initiative to build, preserve or rehabilitate 5,000 housing units by 2025.
“Otter Tail County’s tax rebate program, in addition to encouraging new home construction, includes a goal to open up the existing housing stock to new home buyers,” says Community Development Director Amy Baldwin who addressed county board members on Feb. 13.
“Given the limited availability of entry level priced housing stock, and the high cost of new construction, it is challenging for first time home buyers to achieve home ownership,” Baldwin said.
The program has been successful in communities such as Battle Lake, Fergus Falls, Henning, New York Mills, Ottertail, Parkers Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham and Vergas. Also benefiting from this program are many townships and rural areas throughout Otter Tail County.
For more information and how to apply, do an online search of Otter Tail County, The Big Build. Other housing resources are also available, including down payment assistance for those looking to purchase a home.
More information can also be obtained by contacting Community Development Director Baldwin at (218) 998-8050. Her email is abaldwin@ottertailcounty.gov