Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Rburg wal mart

The Reynoldsburg Wal Mart is not in the PLSD, any part of the Taylor Square area not in the PLSD is in the TIF area, a 30 year TIF. Some of the commercial area outside the TIF area is in the PLSD, behind Logan's Road House, HH Gregg and Staples the apartments and condos past SAM's,and 3/4 of the SAm's Club property is in the PLSD so a portion of the property taxes from Sam's goes to the PLSD and Violet Fire. You are correct that the R-burg school district tried to get this whole area into the district because they wanted the non Tiffed area revenue to go to them since they ponied up on the original TIF. They are benefitting from the income tax payments over the one million dollars, but Violet Fire does not benefit and does have a large portion of their runs up there. A new fire station is being located next to HHGregg and some incentives were provided to help the fire station locate there but it does cost the TWP to staff and equip the station.

If Wal Mart want to come to Violet and Pickerington off Refugee, they want to do it because of the market, the developer would be looking for incentives from governments...I think none should be given since they want the market and we have the location. I also think they ( the developer or Wal Mart should pony up on road improvements big time and not let this burden be carried by the taxpayers.

Please keep in mind

I think we should all keep some facts in mind before we jump on the band wagon to welcome a big box store like Wal-Mart.

Since 2003 the arrests from major crime in the City of Pickerington has increased 400%. Mostly along the 256 areas where these retail developments have occurred.

The two highest incidents of traffic accidents in our community are Refugee & 256 and 256 & Tussing.

To widen Refugee to five lanes to accommodate the traffic from Pickerington Road into Pickerington it will cost in the neighborhood of $9.5 Million. At the minimum, we should demand a traffic impact study and make appropriate plans in addressing the issues brought forth in the study. It would also be appropriate to have our own study so that the community is not shown a report like Taylor Square that was inadequate the first week. Remember the old Kroger store is being converted to a Giant Eagle.

On the issue of tax and revenues. The big winner here is the state. They collect their 5 plus percent in sales tax and they have an income tax that they collect which may be marginal in that most Wal-Mart type employees are around the $10 per hour range.

The next winner in taxes being collected will be the county mainly in the area of sales taxes and they do have some inside milage.

The schools get nothing from this except a higher property evaluation. That means we all see a reduction in our property taxes. This may allow for additional levies in the future and there are no students to educate.

The same goes for the fire department in that they have most of their milage in outside milage.

I do believe the Township will see a slight increase in their revenues because of the 1.5 mill bridge and highway milage which I understand is inside milage.

If you study the plan completed by the City of Pickerington here to your left retail development over 50,000 square feet is a loser in the services provided versus the revenues received.


My point in making this posting is to warn our elected officials that these developments are NOT an investment by these companies. They are going after a market that exists because of the many roof tops in our community.

I would hope in any negotiation that our elected officials be willing to walk away from them once the developer starts the poor mouth of how much they are investing into the community. The fact is this community will shoulder the heavy traffic and the increased crime once these stores are opened. The community will shoulder the new roads, additional police and fire runs. Many of us living here will not be able to make our own mortgage payments with the jobs offered by this development.

I don't believe the township can offer TIFs and I am not sure if the county can do so. Since the state and the county are the big winners in the sales tax they should be footing some of the needed infrastructure. Giving away our local taxes only makes our local funding worse and will bury our schools.

Let's not TIF for Retail

Let's not TIF for retail. If the market is here -- as it clear is -- retail will come without special inducements. Also, let's make sure we think through the infrastructure implications of a big Walmart -- especially given the close proximity of our high school.