Using Special Districts To Finance Public Projects

Special districts serve as a financing tool and land planning and development tool to enhance and accelerate public infrastructure development and private investment. Used appropriately, special districts can provide for a more efficient financing model to pay for public infrastructure, a targeted approach to land development and land planning, and a preferred mechanism for incentivizing economic development. A thorough understanding of the range of powers of special districts, the legal foundation for their use, and examples of the effectiveness of their use for a variety of types of land development will benefit private developers, public entity policy makers, and financial specialists alike.

Learning Objectives:

- You will be able to discuss financing large public works projects.

- You will be able to explain use of special districts for economic development.

- You will be able to identify legal and political considerations.

- You will be able to review financing benefits and alternatives.