No Tax Abatement Yet for Detroit JOA Facility

By: E&P Staff Romulus (Mich.) City Council members voted Thursday to delay deciding whether to grant a tax abatement for a distribution facility leased by Detroit Newspaper Partnership, the joint operating agreement (JOA) that publishes the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News.

After a brief public hearing, the council voted to delay the decision until it decides whether to change its tax abatement guidelines, The Romulus Roman reported Thursday in an article by Molly Tippen.

Last month, the city rejected Detroit Newspapers' request for a 12-year tax abatement on improvements at a distribution facility in Romulus. The abatement would amount to about $1.2 million, according to the JOA, which said the improvements would bring about 60 jobs to the city.

While the JOA is leasing the facility, it is also paying the property taxes for the building. The JOA has until November to secure an abatement, the Romulus Roman reported.