Developers in Shelby County will be required to have more transparency if they want taxpayer funds [Video]

SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Community development in Shelby County could soon start looking a lot different, and residents will have more of a seat at the table. 

New regulations are going into effect that will require private companies to be more transparent with their development initiatives if they want taxpayer funds.

“Homes are our biggest investment,” said Shelby County Commissioner Henri E. Brooks, who led a town hall on the subject on Thursday. “We want to make sure we can control what is gonna be in our neighborhood. We don’t want to be surprised,” 

Development projects are often paid for with city and county funds, whereby private developers receive tax-free bonds or loans known as tax-increment financing (TIF).

The local community is often left entirely …