Many of us have heard the word proffer passed around, but few of us know what a proffer is. Below is an article that does a great job describing what a proffer is and how it is really greasing of the political palm instead of acting as a valuable tax for true improvement. Read on, interesting stuff.

Politics and Proffers

By Tyler Craddock • Oct 14th, 2009 • Category: Feature, Land Use

Recently, the proffer system and its perceived strengths and weaknesses have been the source of much discussion. For the lay reader, the proffer system involves offering certain conditions in connection with a zoning case and is also referred to as conditional zoning.

While the majority of the discussion has centered on cash proffers, the payments that developers are asked to provide in support of a proposed project, and specified non-cash contributions, the proffer system goes further and can actually force choices on consumers, contribute to sprawl, drive up the cost of housing and distort market choices in what should be a free market. You see, the proffer system also involves local governments asking developers to accept a wide range of conditions in connection with a zoning case. While some of the requests are quite reasonable, others are simply driven by politics. (more…)