Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Fire levy is another issue

This is what makes this site so valuable to have idiots post that have no idea what they are talking about. The citizens of Pickerington pay the $250,000 over and above the $2.4 Million they pay to the fire levy. The $2.4 million going to the fire dept is somewhat accounted for and that money can only be used for fire services. The $250,000 I am talking about goes into their general fund and they can use it for what ever they please. They certainly don't use it for the benefit of the city residents.

The point is that the fire station on Lockville is owned by the citizens of Pickerington or at least their share of it when you compare the over $2 Million fire house built in the township. The law allows the city to form its own boundaries and separate the fire department and get their 40% of the assets out of the Violet Fire Department.

The fact is that $250,000 the Pickerington property owners send directly to the trustees is used or abused to sue the City taxpayers regularly to keep their gravy train on schedule.

Dear New

Where did you get your copy of the agreement? Your posting hits the sound bites that a person supporting the agreement would tell his neighbor.

First, I'm very skeptical that you have read the agreement and really don't want to waste my time. So' I'll give you the readers digest version of why it's very, very, bad for all in the PLSD.

This agreement does not allow for residential annexation for the city. The large majority of land contiguous to the city is residential and that's all we would be allowed to annex anyway. Without annexation this will develope as residential in the township with no tax dollars coming in for the city for police millage, parks impact fees and the new home building impact fees. As an examlple, that means any accidents these new people have in the city, we residents fund the police for the increased problems and the new people go back to their homes while we foot the bill (5.5 max mills). As an example, the city provides parks facilities and functions ($450.00 per house). Even if we charge outsiders a higher fee, we still incur the capital expenses. The five dollar higher fee doesn't compare to what we residents have paid for loans, grant approval, parks department personnel, maintenance, etc. The new home building impact fees are some $3000.00+ per house is lost for future road improvements, police equipment, fire equipment, and many other areas this money is legally allowed to be.

Once the city is blocked on all sides no annexation will be allowed according to law. Then when Jedds or Cedas expire, what is the need for the city? We are good guys? This land is for ever lost to the city for annexation. We help fund the infrastructure improvements outside the city and run the risk of never being reimbursed before the life of the agreement ends?

Annexation and the potential of growth for the city will be lost forever. That is the plan. Period. This is not about cooperation. This is about stopping the city of Pickerinton at all costs. Unfortunately, when willing particpants such as Fix and Shaver and Riggs feel getting along is selling us out. Selling us out really means the PLSD borders become unprotected and Canal or others can ZONE and BUILD in OUR school district!

I ask you some simple questions. Why will the authors of this agreement not drop the section on annexation? Is it because the trustees have said that is the line in the sand or we are going to take our business to Canal? Why is the city collecting impact fees, park fees, police millage etcetera, so bad it requires the city signing a thirty year annexation death march? Talk about playing city one against the other.

I think since you say you're on the fence and have only listed the things you THINK are positives, why don't you tell us what you think are the negatives. If there aren't any, go ahead and wallpaper you kitchen with the agreement if you like it so much.


By Skeptic

Thought Something Was Missing

Thought you guys were missing something here. $2.5 million sounds more like it.

You secessionists think you can seize the Lockville Fire Station? This is starting to sound like the Civil War, with the secessionists trying to seize Fort Sumter.

What's gotten into you guys? Again I ask, what's the deal here?

Wondering Myself

Thanks, skeptic, for your two cents worth.

I've been wondering about the annexation stuff myself. As I read the agreement, it does not prohibit the city from annexing residential. It only requires that the township agree to the annexation of such township property.

On the commercial side, there's no room for argument. If by law the city can annex it, then so be it. And even if the city can't annex, it still gets half the tax revenues left after infrastructure costs (road improvements and the like).

Don't know what the residential annexation provision is doing there myself. Thought someone might tell me. Have a hard time, though, seeing this as a conspiracy to wall of the city. Why would anyone want to do that?