Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I think before we all jump on the Jeff Fix band wagon on JEDDs and commercial development we should read what is happening a few miles away in Franklin county. The Franklin County taxpayers have invested $115 Million into Rickenbacker and they hope to start breaking even by 2012. Please keep in mind that they had a working airport to start with and rail lines running through the property. So after 40 years they may break even and exactly when do they repay the tax payers for the $115 Million investment? I guess we all need to ask ?“where?’s the beef?”? Any JEDD will come to repay us once Fix is 90.

Rickenbacker aims to break even by 2012

Airport's annual deficit has declined since 2003

Sunday, March 2, 2008 3:29 AM

By Alayna DeMartini

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Franklin County taxpayers have invested $115 million in Rickenbacker Airport since 1981, and it's still operating in the red.

While the quest for profitability is decades old, the current plan is for self-sufficiency by 2012.

The chief financial officer for the regional airport authority hopes that Rickenbacker will break even in four years, when the county's funding is scheduled to end.
''We think we're on the right path,'' said John Byrum. ''The question is, how quickly can we get there? I'd like to tell you 'tomorrow.' ''

Rickenbacker's annual deficit has declined since 2003, the first year the Columbus Regional Airport Authority took over its operation.

The 5,000-acre airport in southern Franklin and northern Pickaway counties operated at a deficit of $2 million in 2003. That deficit has decreased since then most years. The airport's best year was 2006, with a deficit of $154,952.
If Rickenbacker isn't breaking even by 2012, airport authority officials don't know whether they're going to ask Franklin County taxpayers for more money, said David Whitaker, vice president of business development and communications.
The airport authority also runs Port Columbus, which is a moneymaker. Port Columbus generated $26 million in profit last year, largely from parking fees.

The largest expense for the regional airport authority last year was $19 million for salaries. Elaine Roberts, the CEO, was paid $288,205. Roberts started the job in December 2000 at $150,000 a year. But her salary was increased after managing Rickenbacker was added to her responsibilities in 2003.

At that time, the airport authority told airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration that it would not use profits from Port Columbus to offset losses at Rickenbacker, and it hasn't. Airline and FAA officials want the profits reinvested in Port Columbus improvements.

Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown said she thinks that's a good decision. ''We trust what they're doing is responsible,'' she said. ''We feel confident in our investment in the airport authority.''
Franklin County taxpayers have funded Rickenbacker since 1981, a year after Rickenbacker Air Force Base closed. The highest contribution was $8 million in 2000. In recent years, the annual allocation has been $4.3 million. Rickenbacker managers projected in 1987 that the regional airport would begin turning a profit in 2002.
Rickenbacker could set up a steady income stream by selling 1,500 acres in its industrial park and investing the money. Selling the land would be more profitable than leasing it, Whitaker said. Sales could take 10 to 15 years to complete, Byrum said, and the money generated could shift with the economy.




By Not buying it

Move to Hamilton Twp Gary


''The phone is ringing. There are leads,'' Whitaker said of potential buyers.
The airport authority bought 381 acres last year to expand the industrial park, said Robin Holderman, the airport authority's vice president for real estate. Much of that land lacks water and sewer lines, and roads would have to be widened and new ones built to accommodate traffic.

Three businesses are leasing space at the park: Toys ''R'' Us, Whirlpool and HyperLogistics.

One of the major draws for the industrial park is expected to be a recently completed terminal for transferring goods between trucks and trains. Norfolk Southern owns the terminal, also known as an ''intermodal'' because it transfers merchandise from one form of transportation to another.

It could spur the already healthy rate of business development in Obetz and the region, Obetz Mayor E. Rod Davisson said.

''We see it as a bonus. Obetz is positioned to do well with or without the intermodal facility,'' Davisson said.

Obetz and Groveport are offering 15-year property-tax breaks for businesses that move into the areas of the park that are within their borders.
Trustees in Hamilton Township, which is next to the Rickenbacker airport, aren't as enthusiastic.

''Financially, it will not help us at all,'' Trustee Shannon Bush said.
The township doesn't offer water or sewer, so the businesses likely will annex into Columbus or Obetz. As a result, the township won't be cashing in on the property taxes from new development.

Bush questions the airport authority's estimate that the terminal will attract 20,000 new jobs to the area. He considers that to be high. And he says the terminal will add traffic in a congested area.

A study has determined what roads need to be improved, but area government officials haven't determined how to pay for the work.
Besides drawing businesses into the area near Rickenbacker, Byrum hopes to boost the number of charter airlines and cargo carriers that use the airport.
Cargo shipments in and out of Rickenbacker were down 12 percent last year. The airport has space to handle about 10 times as many cargo shipments as it currently handles.
A $12.5 million charter terminal built despite the objections of the Franklin County commissioners is largely unused. Five charter airlines have come and gone.
Two charters have used the terminal recently for bowl-game and gambling trips, and Myrtle Beach Direct Air is expected to begin offering three flights a week starting in March.
ademartini@dispatch.com



By Still not buying it

I can add to that

More facts that just keep getting in the way:

Sycamore Crossing to break ground in spring
Plans are underway for a 90 acre Fairfield County industrial and office park providing a campus setting for growing businesses in the U.S. Route 33 corridor of Violet Township.

The new business park, Sycamore Crossing, takes its name from the creek that borders the development. It is located on Basil Western Road along U.S. Route 33, with highway access at the U.S. Route 33 and Hill/Diley Road interchange.

The park features flexible land use for parcels ranging in size from 2 to 60 acres and zoning for light industrial, office and other commercial applications, including space for a 20 acre office park. There's no corporate or personal municipal income tax for businesses and development standards and deed restrictions are in place to ensure high quality development and help guarantee property values. All utilities to the site are provided by Fairfield County Utilities. An enterprise zone tax abatement is availability.

Managing partners Michael Arcari and John McGory believe the growth of Fairfield County and the location of the park will make it a success.

''Our target market is small to mid-sized, owner-occupied facilities that need a place to grow,'' said Arcari. ''With an average yearly growth rate of 5 percent in the Route 33-Pickerington-Canal Winchester area, our plan is to provide the expanding market an attractive campus setting for development. Smaller businesses have been overlooked in central Ohio marketing efforts. Sycamore Crossing will be geared to their needs and we will assist them throughout the development and building process.''

Zoning for the business park was approved by the Violet Township trustees in January. The M-2 zoning allows for a wide range of uses. Arcari said the development will target light manufacturing, service and office uses.

Arcari cited other nearby projects, such as the planned Mount Carmel/Fairfield Medical hospital and office complex and the soon-to-be-completed Meijer store, as examples of others capitalizing on the area growth. Cincinnati developer KCDG has also announced a new 350,000 square foot commercial retail power center to start construction in the Diley Road area later this year.

McGory said the unique feature of the project is the combination of centralized water and sewer and no corporate or personal municipal income tax on companies and their employees locating at Sycamore Crossing.

''Fairfield County has spent millions of dollars over the past decade developing a utility system along the Route 33 corridor to help encourage economic development. Since our property is zoned and located in the unincorporated area, companies are not subject to municipal income tax. This represents a tremendous benefit to both company owners and employees,'' said McGory.

Sycamore Crossing will promote a business campus look by providing development standards and deed restrictions for buyers. McGory said this will help the park maintain its value over time.

''Sycamore Crossing will be a well-maintained business neighborhood. Buyers will be able to choose their own builders but we will require them to go through an architectural review process to ensure quality building product in the park,'' said McGory.

The managing partners are expecting a spring 2008 ground breaking. They are presently negotiating with several companies considering locating in the park.

Arcari indicated their marketing effort would be coordinated with the Fairfield 33 Development Alliance regional marketing initiative.

''We believe the 33 corridor has a lot to offer new and expanding businesses, and working together with other organizations in the area is the best way to make that happen,'' said Arcari.

Mike and John are not buying it

Here we have two people that have acted for at least three of the five parties involved with the current five party JEDD. Yet they are going off on their own to develop their own project with no income taxes. It brings back the question why should any of these land others join this JEDD if they already have hard roads and the utilities? This JEDD isn't going anywhere.