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Group for West Chester’s incorporation seeks signatures on Election Day

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 9:21 PM Monday, November 2, 2009

Leaders for the campaign to incorporate West Chester Twp. are asking local volunteers to bring more with them on Election Day than a picture ID.

The Committee for West Chester will be hosting an “Ironing Board Brigade” at polling locations all across the township Nov. 3 in an effort to gather enough signatures to place the issue of “cityhood” on the May 20, 2010, ballot.

A minimum of 4,319 valid signatures are needed in order for the initiative to be put before voters next spring, and with an anticipated turnout of 15,000 registered voters, it’s possible to collect all the petition signatures needed in just one day, said Bill Zerkle, chairman of the Committee for West Chester.

Since the effort was launched in June, Zerkle said the group has collected more than 700 signatures.

“We do think this is the most important issue facing our community right now,” Zerkle said. “And we think this is the best opportunity to collect enough signatures at the polls on Tuesday.”

Proponents say incorporation would allow the local government to recoup millions of dollars each year from tens of thousands of workers who live outside the township if a 1 percent income tax were levied as part of the initiative.

Zerkle said the income tax could eliminate the need for police and fire levies — at least one of which is expected to appear on a ballot sometime next year — which raised just more than $20 million in property taxes in 2007. A Lakota Schools levy is also expected in the near future.

“The real issue is whether the residents would like to reduce their property taxes before the levies come up next year,” he said, adding the savings could be between $650 to $700 per year.

Opponents — like the current slate of trustees, including each candidate for trustee on the Nov. 3 ballot, the Cincinnati Tea Party and local business owners — say incorporation would kill the township’s ability to govern itself efficiently and draw businesses swooned by the absence of income taxes, except in special circumstances.

The Committee for West Chester is asking local residents to help with the effort on Nov. 3 by bringing their ironing boards — an appropriate height for signing a petition, Zerkle said — to the polls to help gather signatures.

Although the petitions are not due until early next year, Zerkle said the goal is to have enough signatures to turn into the Board of Elections by the end of this year to allow more time for validation.

For more information, call (513) 227-7672 or e-mail bzerkle@mac.com by Nov. 1.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

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If WC does become a City they will eliminate the police and fire levies. BUT you will have a City Property Tax that will replace it. YOU WILL NOT SAVE money here. The Public Works Dept will have to double because they will have to maintain the County streets that they do not maintain now. That will cost more in taxes.

What the....
12:05 PM, 11/3/2009

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Incorporate WC and it won't take long for it to be the next Hamilton or Middletown! Yippie!

JJ
8:45 AM, 11/3/2009

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I went to the polls this morning to vote and one of these clowns approached me. He said "this will lower all your taxes" I can't wait till they try to certify this petition as I'll be the first one to protest their lies with the AG.

William
7:13 AM, 11/3/2009

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Zerkle still hasn't gotten over being fired from his township job. Now he wants revenge at taxpayers expense. You need only look at his followers and the phrase "show me the money" comes to mind.

Ben Dover
5:55 PM, 11/2/2009

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glad i don't live in westchester township - more government; looks like zerkle wants to be mayor so he can get a big paycheck - westchester already has the TID income tax on the new GE buildings at the old softball complex - just more headaches and problems, if it does become a city, I for one will not eat at their restaurants or shop at their busineses, or drive on their roads (red light cameras for sure) take care

jackbo
4:40 PM, 11/2/2009

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