Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Impact Fees and Our Local Officials Who Refuse to Support Them

We will all soon see if the City of Pickerington is in business for residential developers or in business to maintain a decent quality of life for the citizens they are supposed to represent. Will Pickerington City Council consider a city ordinance authorizing Impact Fees or will they not? My guess is they will not.

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled these Impact Fees are perfectly legal. A new homeowner would be expected to pay an additional fee for their new home. We would not have to wait and see if the city can ?“pass another levy?” to get extra funds to pay for the additional services required to handle these new residents; the city and our school district would get their money before the new residents get their keys. It makes perfect sense, but I don?’t think City Hall is prepared to do it. For years they have denied this was even legal. Now that it has been proven by the courts to be legal, what will be their excuse not to impose these fees?

I believe some of the individuals in City Hall have a serious conflict of interest. Residential developers and builders have actively contributed to the campaigns of council members and the mayor himself. Can this be the reason City Hall is so easily manipulated by these developers? Some builders have also contributed to the Pickerington for Kids Committee that is pressing area residents to support Issue 14, the $77M school levy. It?’s obvious why they want us to build more schools. With more schools, they would not have to sell potential homebuyers a house that is in a financially challenged district. These developers could even boast that there is a ?“brand new high school and Jr. high school?”, then walk away with their pockets stuffed with money. In a round about way, it?’s our money. These homebuilders are causing the need for the additional schools, so they should build them. Interestingly enough, even some architectural firm is contributing money to the school levy campaign. The same firm will, more than likely, design the new High School and Jr. High. Sound like a conflict of interest? You bet it is.

What we have today is a school administration that refuses to do their job and speak out against local government actions that hurt our district and a City Hall the is all too friendly with residential developers. Let me be frank in saying the rezoning of the land behind Krogers was the biggest single slap-in-the-face Pickerington residents have had thus far. However, if the city gets the OK for the ?“business district?” annexation, which will pour money into Canal Winchester Schools and do nothing to help Pickerington Schools, then this annexation would be the biggest slap-in-the-face. Whose side is City Hall on anyway? We?’ll know for sure after we see them shoot down Impact Fees.

School officials, too, should be pushing for Impact Fees. Are they too busy running fruitless campaigns and pandering split-session rhetoric? Surely, they are all now convinced that these fees are legal. Or will they refuse to acknowledge defeat and ignore this viable alternative to bolster the district?’s cash flow? It?’s going to be interesting hearing their excuses for not supporting Impact Fees.

We need to slow residential growth and we need more money for schools without increasing our taxes. Impact fees do all of the above.








By jb

Impact Fee v. Developers Motives

With deceptive information coming from many officials, it is time that area residents become more aware that ?“Impact Fees?” are legal in Ohio and being used by more and more growing communities around the state. The landmark decision is commonly called the ?“Beavercreek ruling?” and was decided by the Ohio Supreme Court in favor of the leveling of Impact Fees.

The nuts and bolts are that developers hate these fees. The prices of the real estate they sell to consumer?’s rises in communities that have impact fees. However, the ability of those communities to maintain vital community services makes those towns much more desirable to live. This is a balance that is not should not be overlooked.

If we had impact fees in place for the developments along Tussing Road, do you think that lights, turn lanes, crosswalks, sidewalks and other safety measures would have enhanced these neighborhoods? If we had impact fees going to safety and security do you think the recently passes Pickerington Police levy could have been offset to a lower millage? Would impact fees help the price tag of our school?’s issues and possibly speed up land purchases or operating funds in advance of the ?“always behind?” race that has been going on for over a decade.

Impact fees are helping neighborhoods around the country and within Ohio. The real question is why are they not used here. There are hurdles that need to be crossed in imposing Impact Fees, however, any official that doesn?’t give this ?“growth management tool?” very serious effort is not looking out to this community?’s future and listening only to their development focused ?“friends?”.