Democratic County Council Candidate weighs in on the potential Granger TIF district 

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- The debate over data center development in St. Joseph County continued Tuesday as county Democrats called for stronger a ban on future data center projects.

During a news conference, St. Joseph County Councilwoman Jenn Shabazz said she has never voted in favor of a data center and would not support one in the future.

Democratic candidates for County Council attended the news conference, including Jan Cervelli, the Democratic nominee for County Council District C, which includes Granger and the area surrounding Microsoft's data center project.

The comments come as the County Council prepares to consider whether to establish an expanded TIF district around the Microsoft development.

Cervelli said opposition to additional data centers should not be viewed as a partisan issue.

She said she has previously approached Republican officials about establishing a moratorium and creating regulations for future data center development.

"It's absolutely a non-partisan issue," Cervelli said. "I went in person and appealed to those very Republicans to put a moratorium on, to put regulations into place, to question the TIF."

The proposed TIF would expand the existing AM General Economic Development Area from about 600 acres to roughly 4,000 acres, according to Cervelli.

The existing TIF was established in 2001.

Economic development officials have used the district to fund projects including highway improvements and extensions of water and sewer services.

Similar goals have been proposed for the expanded district surrounding the Microsoft data center.

Cervelli questioned how the existing TIF has affected development in Mishawaka over the past 25 years and said residents should have more information about how TIF revenue has been spent.

"Where has the money gone? How has the community benefited?" Cervelli said. "Are these really worth their while and should we continue the practice?"

She also criticized the proposed expansion as lacking enough detail about how revenue generated through development would be used.

Cervelli said decisions about commercial and industrial development should include more public input. She said residents were not fully aware that certain types of development could be part of the area's long-term plans.

"All of that kind of commercial and industrial development is not something that the public was really aware was in a plan, and they don't want to see that," Cervelli said.

The County Council's vote on the proposed expanded TIF district has been pushed back to Tuesday, Sept. 22.