Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Statistically significant

While the intent of Mr. Hackworth's survey is indeed good. The responses were so small they are statistically insignificant.

We may want to structure a ''real'' survey with a sample size that give us something to work with. Making these decisions based on the respondants of 64 households is frightening.

It may also be wise to include the township & not only the city if you indeed are serious about a merger.

The numbers

First; I respectfully disagree with you when you say that a response of 64 people out of 1,000 cards distributed is statistically insignificant.

If you look at the questions asked, you will see that Mr. Hackworth's survey did ask the question of whether the person was voting for the school bond and apparently most responding answered the question. The point here is that those that responded were very likely voters. The second point in the survey is that he asked if people had school age kids and whether they were retired. By correlating these two questions he was able to break down the voting strength of each demographic group.

Finally those that indicated they were voting for or against the school bond were almost exactly the same numbers at the polls a couple of weeks after the survey. My point is the political pollsters do this all the time and they are normally within a few percentage points of their predictions. So a survey like this that is thought out can predict and reflect the views of the citizens.

As for the lowering the property tax in exchange with increasing ones income taxes paid to a new city. That could be done.

If you would visit Mr. Wisniewski's web site and view the property taxes we currently pay for fire service in the township and in the City. Also keep in mind that the effective millage of the fire levies are down to around 7 mills. It was also pointed out in the paper (Southeast Messenger) that the fire service is operating out of their reserve monies which means they will need to seek a levy renewal soon or a replacement levy.

Mr. Wisniewski does indicate that for a $200,000 home we pay $490 per year. Many of the cities in central Ohio pay a 2% income tax if they have a good commercial tax base then they can give a 100% credit on all money earned in another city like Columbus. To be conservative here I would suggest that we keep the current 50% credit that Pickerington has so in affect those working in another city would pay 1% of their income to Pickerington city income taxes. If you are the owner of a $200,000 home then it is reason to think that you are and should be earning in the $80,000 range for a household income. That also is what the census data indicates.

So if you were to pay that 1% in income tax then that would come to $800 per year in income taxes locally for services versus the $490 currently paid to the fire levies. However If the trustees go for a renewal and they reset it to the nearly 12 mills then that $200,000 home will cost you $840 in property taxes for fire service. Thus saving you annually $40. In a quick survey of township property values you will find that the average home prices are somewhat higher in the township and they would realize more savings in property taxes versus the City home owners.
I believe before a merger vote is even considered we should have a commercial development plan in place.



By Dan

Atta Boy Dan!

Dan,

What a delightfully well thought out and articulate posting. Thank you for it is so refreshing. Yosemite Pam and other nom de plumes I am sure he/she used before that has preached merger for quite some time. I am in disagreement with that approach. I think now that many of the community leaders, including city managers and township directors, have shown their true colors, there is no leadership in place to any longer act in the best interests of the city. Any further interaction with the township will cause our downward spiral to accelerate. I would head in the opposite direction of merger and proceed with forming a paper township with all haste. Let us, in the words of former poster Patriot, declare our independence and look to our best interests first.

Contrary to others?’ opinions in this blog, I think Hackworth?’s survey is important. I talked to him and I can assure you he did not enter into this uninformed. The decision to arbitrarily drop a survey at every fifth mailbox is acceptable. The percentage of returns is acceptable and therefore I would tend to listen to the results. His survey shows we should not proceed with continuing this cooperative boondoggle with the township. Mr. Hackworth has solicited his constituents?’ opinions, they have spoken and he is acting accordingly. What a refreshing approach to civic representation. Ask what we want and proceed accordingly. Don?’t you wish Mr. Bush asked us about his actions once in a while??

A couple of responses piqued my curiosity. The annexation for commercial instead of residential seemed to be an uninformed response. On the surface we say we don?’t want residential but if it is zoned and build residential, we all suffer whether it is in the city or township. They all go to our schools and drive on our roads.

If the survey had some easy to understand qualifying information on the income tax increase versus property tax decrease I am sure the responses would have been different but it is not an easy explanation so he went with what he had. Of course we all want something that we don?’t have to pay for. We all want a community rec center and a pool and better equipped and expansive parks and our own fire department to take pride in rather then dealing with the township?’s primadonnas but we don?’t want to have to pay for any of that. That?’s just human nature. Can any of us truthfully say we think we don?’t pay a lot in taxes so we would always accept more to pay for amenities?

If you set aside the economic agreement for a moment and take a look at the accomplishments of this council since they took office what is left? Quite simply, not much. Because of political maneuvering such as this agreement and many of the council and certainly the mayor focusing only on their own political futures you have an elected body that has neutered themselves. Little to no effort has been placed on running the city and taking care of business. All efforts have been spent exclusively on thrust and parry, punch and block, yell and insult. I am a supporter of the current council minority and I can tell you that I have virtually withdrawn for communicating with them or offering moral support simply because they are fully engaged I the childish antics that have plagued this city for so many years. Bickering! I am done with them, even as friends, because they refused to rise above the sewer level politics of Fix, Shaver and all their buddies to remain true to the cause of serving the city.

So, in closing Dan, please keep posting. You have important thoughts. But carefully consider your support of a merger. Or more importantly, consider the consequences of a merger with the Shaver/Fix/Weltlich regime having all the power.

With friends like these...

As someone with all the answers what pray-tell would you have done differently than the council minority? It's easy to throw stones when you're disengaged, sitting on the sidelines.

I'm sure you do a great job on Monday mornings telling everyone what was wrong with the games on Sunday.