To our dear friends in the Township.
I have a few questions.
1. This year (2006/2007) the property valuation in the City is $376,771,200. The city property owners will pay to the township directly $220,662.72. What does the township government do for the City Taxpayers for this outrageous tax amount? Please keep in mind that this is totally separate from the fire levy.
2. Why does the township government feel they should share in any economic development revenue with the City taxpayers when they have refused over the years to help with any of the infrastructure costs that make these developments possible?
3. Why does the township feel they should have veto power over the city if the City and a property owner contiguous to the city wants to annex their property to the city? Isn?’t it the right of the property owner to choose where he wants to receive public services for his property? Isn?’t it also true that the township offers no police, no sewer and no water service directly to anyone in the City or township?
4. So why should the City of Pickerington police department continue to be the first on site when the bank is robbed at the corner of 256 and Stonebridge North?
5. In the recently passed development agreement with the City of Pickerington it states that the city will reimburse the township for any taxes abated or other tax incentives given to those commercial developments that the city might annex in the future. If this is an equal partnership then why is the city the only party in this agreement taking the hit for these incentives?
6. This past week the City of Pickerington and the Village of Canal Winchester were in the common pleas court to determine if the Snider-Thornton properties will be annexed into Canal Winchester. It appears that the major question on this annexation was the date the new annexation law became effective. That question was answered by the Ohio Supreme court in favor of Canal. If in fact this property is annexed into Canal then it effectively cuts Pickerington off from ever reaching US 33 by annexation. In addition the 92 acres between the Snider (PLSD) property and US 33 called the Davis property has recently been purchased by former economic directors of both Pickerington and Violet twp. If they apply to put condos on this 92 acres exactly where is the industrial park that the township is trying to sell to Fix?
7. We have all heard about the economic development efforts by the Township. One being the big box at Refugee and Pickerington Roads. We have also heard about the ?“great?” opportunities along Allen Road. Exactly what are the plans of the township to provide roads and other services like sewer and water to these areas? If you actually have plans how much will providing this infrastructure cost and who will pay for it?
8. Since the new assessed valuation of property in the Township is $503,647,600 that would mean the township could take on debt totally 10.5% of that figure. Some where in the range of $52 Million. However exactly how much debt can you realistically pay back without going to the voters for a levy? Your ability to pay back that debt is your debt limit not the assessed value of the township property. So how much can you all borrow?
I have a few questions.
1. This year (2006/2007) the property valuation in the City is $376,771,200. The city property owners will pay to the township directly $220,662.72. What does the township government do for the City Taxpayers for this outrageous tax amount? Please keep in mind that this is totally separate from the fire levy.
2. Why does the township government feel they should share in any economic development revenue with the City taxpayers when they have refused over the years to help with any of the infrastructure costs that make these developments possible?
3. Why does the township feel they should have veto power over the city if the City and a property owner contiguous to the city wants to annex their property to the city? Isn?’t it the right of the property owner to choose where he wants to receive public services for his property? Isn?’t it also true that the township offers no police, no sewer and no water service directly to anyone in the City or township?
4. So why should the City of Pickerington police department continue to be the first on site when the bank is robbed at the corner of 256 and Stonebridge North?
5. In the recently passed development agreement with the City of Pickerington it states that the city will reimburse the township for any taxes abated or other tax incentives given to those commercial developments that the city might annex in the future. If this is an equal partnership then why is the city the only party in this agreement taking the hit for these incentives?
6. This past week the City of Pickerington and the Village of Canal Winchester were in the common pleas court to determine if the Snider-Thornton properties will be annexed into Canal Winchester. It appears that the major question on this annexation was the date the new annexation law became effective. That question was answered by the Ohio Supreme court in favor of Canal. If in fact this property is annexed into Canal then it effectively cuts Pickerington off from ever reaching US 33 by annexation. In addition the 92 acres between the Snider (PLSD) property and US 33 called the Davis property has recently been purchased by former economic directors of both Pickerington and Violet twp. If they apply to put condos on this 92 acres exactly where is the industrial park that the township is trying to sell to Fix?
7. We have all heard about the economic development efforts by the Township. One being the big box at Refugee and Pickerington Roads. We have also heard about the ?“great?” opportunities along Allen Road. Exactly what are the plans of the township to provide roads and other services like sewer and water to these areas? If you actually have plans how much will providing this infrastructure cost and who will pay for it?
8. Since the new assessed valuation of property in the Township is $503,647,600 that would mean the township could take on debt totally 10.5% of that figure. Some where in the range of $52 Million. However exactly how much debt can you realistically pay back without going to the voters for a levy? Your ability to pay back that debt is your debt limit not the assessed value of the township property. So how much can you all borrow?
