"We had 324 homes built last year, which will cost the city more than $600,000 (more) than the taxes from those properties bring in,''
Ward, however, said council members oppose his plan because they are "in the back pocket of residential developers.''
Most Hilliard residents would favor his plan, he said. And if the council won't pass the legislation, Ward said he will consider a petition drive to put the issue on the November ballot.