Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Builders should pay overcrowded school districts


Saturday, July 09, 2005


The rapid growth in central Ohio is further exacerbating the fiscal woes of local governments and the residents who pay for them, because growth costs money. New development requires roads, water and sewer infrastructure, police and fire protection, emergency medical services and parks, to name a few.

Traditionally, the costs of these improvements have been financed primarily by income taxes. Government has turned to tax increases to stretch budgets far enough to cover the bills from growth. However, taxpayers have made it clear that enough is enough.

In response to taxpayers?’ resentment, many municipalities are looking at shifting the burden of public improvements to developers, via impact fees.

Impact fees are one-time assessments by local governments on new development. Basically, they are user fees. Those who create demand for services would pay for them. Many communities in central Ohio already collect impact fees.
As part of Mayor Michael B. Coleman?’s ''pay as you grow'' strategy, Columbus is collecting $8 million to help pay for infrastructure improvements from the builders who are developing the Hayden Run corridor.

Impact fees are useful tools to deal with growth issues but, in their present form, do not go far enough. They ignore school systems.
One of the greatest burdens presented by new rooftops is the number of schoolchildren they represent. All suburban school districts in central Ohio are already severely stressed. More children will only worsen an already bad situation.

A solution lies in having school districts assess impact fees. Many areas in the South have experienced years of rapid growth. They have successfully turned to impact fees for schools.
Communities in Virginia, Maryland and Florida have sought to support their school systems through adequate-public-facilities ordinances. These ordinances ensure that residential developments are approved only if the public-school system could accommodate the additional students.

Columbus has adopted such an ordinance. However, that ordinance does not have a provision for school funding because state law prohibits schools from assessing impact fees. This needs to be remedied. We need to support the reform effort initiated by state Rep. Jon M. Peterson, RDelaware.


By City Observer

And I don't mean Hughes

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

July 9, 2005


Peterson has introduced House Bill 299, which would authorize counties, townships and school districts to levy impact fees on new development to finance capital improvements necessitated by that development. The ability to assess impact fees has been limited to municipalities.
The current version of this bill allows impact fees to be collected before a building permit is issued. Collecting impact fees for schools when contractors apply for a building permit makes perfect sense. Builders are already paying for tap fees, various permit fees and possibly impact fees for public improvements prior to being issued building permits. The mechanism for collecting fees for the school system is already in place.

The Building Industry Association, which represents developers who wish to sell homes as inexpensively as possible, has stated that the increased impact fees for schools would have a detrimental effect on the local economy.

But a 2003 study prepared for the Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy came to a much different conclusion. This study found that impact fees spent on infrastructure in counties experiencing growth are beneficial to job growth. A healthy economy, as indicated by job growth, is conducive to homeownership.

A regional approach to growth in central Ohio must necessarily revolve around Columbus. Pitting communities that charge school-impact fees against those that don?’t would be detrimental to the overall health of this area. Leaders supporting comprehensive and fair impact fees that include schools must emanate from Downtown.
I look forward to cooperating in designing the blueprint and funding mechanisms for the development of central Ohio. I am confident that leaders of other communities around the Outerbelt feel the same way. We all want our growing community to remain a thriving community.

DAVID SHAVER Mayor Pickerington





By City Observer

Making it all possible

What allows the Mayor to even express his visions in this letter is the fact that he has a small margin on the Pickerington City Council that supports the Mayors views. That small voting margin will be challenged this fall.

If you want to see us go back to uncontrolled growth and all of the tax burdens that come with it then stay at home November 8th and not vote.

Clearly the forces of the builders are still with us. Parker truly believes that our real estates taxes continue to be lower with each new home built.

Sabatino only cares about his family members and it own basement when it comes to Council Business.

Wright wants to protect the image of Joyce Bushman and the former Mayor that was denied him with the defeat of Lou Postage.

I hope you will all join the continuation of the Pickerington Revolution and complete the job this November 8th.

For the survival of this community and the school system we need some new ideas and a new direction. I think Mayor Shaver has outlined that new direction and he must have support on the Pickerington City Council to carry out that vision.

Here again those folks that will challenge the three that need to be replaced on council this fall will need the citizens help and support. No matter whether you live in the township or the city your taxes will be affected by a loss of the Majority for Mayor Shaver. These candidates will need help in every aspect of the campaign. Please contact those names that you know and keep the change moving here in our community.



By Council Supporter

Clean Sweep

If we can take all four open seats this fall with like-minded individuals to the current majority, it will complete a clean sweep of the city. Take a look at the changes to staff at 100 Lockville. Even the remnants of the old regime have taken note and fled. They see the change in the air. They know they cannot survive the next election.

If we can just get a little fire lit under this new city manager as well as takiong all four seats this fall, we may have a chance at saving the city and securing a mutually benefical result to the surrounding areas.

So far I know of two strong candidates starting their campaigns. There is also a third, but I can't quite get a ''fix'' on what he is. I think he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I think he is a ''fox'' prowling around the hen house. I think he has a lot of ''maxey'' or is it moxey in some of the things he has said about the minority councilmen, but he still seems ''berry'' much like a ''bushman'' league player when it comes to where his heart really is. I am not a''hughes''ing him of anything, but my trust factor in him right now is lower than the 1920 ''postage'' rates.

Just beware of someone who is all talk and no action. Talk won't bring this city back. Only the action of proven leaders will.

By Grouchy Old Fart