On Sept. 24, the Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton & Walton Counties (JDA) voted unanimously to approve another revenue distribution of $2 million to the four counties and school districts it serves. The JDA delivered this revenue on Oct. 3.
The counties and school districts receive tax revenue from the Stanton Springs South project under a revenue-sharing agreement with the JDA.
According to the agreement, payout percentages include 10 percent to Jasper County, 15 percent to Morgan County, 37.5 percent to Newton County, and 37.5 percent to Walton County.
The disbursement of funds within each county is based on the 2023 millage rates (Morgan, Newton, and Walton counties) or a separate intergovernmental agreement (Jasper County).
For the latest distribution, Jasper County received $200,000, with $120,000 going to the Board of Commissioners and $80,000 going to the school system. Morgan County received $300,000, with $127,530 going to the commissioners and $172,470 going to the school system. Newton County received $750,000; $249,825 went to the commissioners, $473,700 to the school system, and $26,475 to the county fire department. Walton County also received $750,000. Of that total, $257,475 went to the commissioners, $412,800 to the school system, $45,375 to the county fire department, and $34,350 to the school bond.
This year, projects at the JDA’s Stanton Springs campus have resulted in $12.5 million in total distributions.
“The JDA is proud to continue providing revenue to the four counties and anticipates many more distributions in the future,” authority spokesperson Ben Sheidler said in a statement. “The goal of the JDA has always been to provide a steady stream of revenue to its counties, schools, and citizens while also providing valuable job opportunities. Since 2001, the JDA has generated $42.7 million for its local counties and school districts. As the projects in Stanton Springs continue to mature, we will see hundreds of millions of dollars distributed to our citizens over the next 25 years.”