Termination of Northwest tax reinvestment zones moves forward

The City of El Paso has validated a petition that would call for the immediate termination of three Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, all in Northwest El Paso.

The city clerk has validated the signatures for the petition to terminate the zones, also known as TIRZ.

The TIRZ are basically a financial tool that allows taxes collected within those zones to be specifically reinvested there.

ABC-7 reported on the creation of two of the zones in Northwest El Paso in September.

TIRZ 10 is about 40 acres and encompasses the area where the Great Wolf Lodge will be located along I-10.

TIRZ 10A is adjacent to TIRZ 10 and encompasses nearly 4,000 acres near I-10 and Transmountain Road.

TIRZ 12 is just east of TIRZ 10A. It’s about 1,000 acres of open-space and includes the Lost Dog Trail, which residents have been fighting to protect.

City Council will take up the petition at its next meeting.

Another petition sought to change the locations of the proposed downtown multipurpose center and the Mexican-American cultural center, but it did not have enough signatures to be considered by City Council.