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The city would get approximately $317,520/year in taxes off of those homes (again, assuming $600k X 84 divided by 100 X .063). This is compared to the $5,000 per year the City has been receiving from the empty building over the last 20+ years. That is not chump change. I've said this before publicly that a new school or community center would be great. IMHO I just don't see the county putting up that kind of money for a school or community center. HMS is scheduled for repair, though as rightfully pointed out it will not help with the overcrowding. However, the money is already in the budget for the repairs and I just don't see the county pulling that money and then adding another $10-12 Million to purchase and build a new school. As for a community center or affordable housing, the county would again need to pony up money that I don't think it has or is otherwise prioritized. Perhaps something could be done to create an incentive for Werrlein can make some of the houses subsidized for low income through tax breaks. In short, I hate to see the opportunity for this eyesore in our community sidelined for another 20 years. Everyone loses in that scenario.

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