Sara Harris, Executive Director of the Midland Development Corporation, said the MDC is funded by sales tax, which remains stable but fluctuates with economic activity, shaping ongoing community discussions about Midland's future amidst concerns about its dependence on oil and gas and perceptions of transience. Harris was a guest on a recent episode of the Best of Midland Podcast.
"The MDC is funded by tax dollars; it's funded by sales tax, so that percentage is set and it's never going to increase," said Harris on a recent edition of the Best of Midland Podcast. "It varies from year to year just based on economic activity. During downturns, it goes down some and it's been up over the past couple of years. It's all part of the larger discussion of where we see ourselves as a community.”
“I also think that there is a tendency to not believe in Midland's future," Harris said. “If you look at other cities, they have a vision for where they want to be in 50 years, where they want to be in 100 years. I think that there's a persistent undercurrent in Midland that we're not even going to be here in 50 years because the oil's going to run out or everybody's just going to decide to leave. They're still considering Midland to be transient, just based on exactly oil and gas, based on the resources we have based on our industry base and the age of our community; we've got a long path ahead of us."
Harris serves as the Executive Director of the Midland Development Corporation (MDC), which supports businesses currently in Midland and those considering relocating to the area.
Best of Midland Podcast is hosted by Ryan Shewchuk and Terra Avery. It is an extension of the broader Best of Midland program, which aims to support small, local businesses by showcasing them and the people behind them. Their website lists top businesses and upcoming live events happening in the area.
The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.