They then set things in motion to find out exactly how much money a 3, 3.5 or 4 mill levy would garner. Staff estimates show taxpayers owning a $100,000 home would pay a total — including the existing levies passed in 1999 and 2010— of $295, $301 or $318 depending on which option is chosen.
The revenues from the three different levy requests would be $7 million, $7.6 million or $8 million. The existing levy from 2010 and the 1999 levy will bring in an estimated $4.8 million to cover $6.2 million in expenses in 2017. The cost to the same $100,000 home for taxpayers is estimated at $178.
If the township remains status quo, the fire and EMS fund balance, estimated to be $1.1 million to start next year, will evaporate and put the fund into the negative to the tune of $233,439 by the start of 2018. Fire Chief Paul Stumpf said calls for services continue to rise, back in 2011 they responded to 2,183 calls, last year the number had jumped to 2,386 and already this year they have responded to 1,096 calls for help in the first five months.
When the Journal-News reported the story, several readers commented, wanting to know why the explosive growth hasn’t turned into more revenue,
“The fastest growing area in southwest Ohio in both residential and commercial is not bringing in enough tax dollars to fund the township,” a reader wrote. “Why not?”
Liberty Center will generate new income, sales and property tax revenues as well as fee revenues paid by shoppers and property owners but the only income the township is receiving are proceeds from the Joint Economic Development District that charges a 1.5 percent tax on workers, property owners and business owners.
The district is in a partnership of Liberty Twp., Middletown and Mason municipalities that split the revenues, although a majority of the collections (83 percent) go to Liberty Twp. and are spent to pay back debt for the cost of the Liberty Way interchange and other infrastructure improvements in that area. In 2018, the first year of operations at full occupancy, estimates show $1.39 million in income tax revenues will be generated.
Township Board President Tom Farrell said JEDD monies can't be used for police and fire because they are dedicated to repaying the $45 million Liberty Way construction project.
“JEDD money is back-up funding for us for the Liberty Way interchange,” Farrell said. “And all of that money has to go right back into the area that surrounds it. JEDD money is very specific as to its use.”
Increased real estate valuations by 2018 could create approximately $3.95 million in annual property tax revenues but under a Tax Increment Financing District deal — created in 2001 — with local governments, the project developer will make minimum payments in lieu of taxes of $2 million a year that will go to repay borrowings for public infrastructure. That pot also includes an agreed-to payment of about $1.3 million a year to Lakota Local School District in lieu of taxes.
However, Liberty Twp. won’t see any revenues from the TIF until 2032 when the county’s TIF expires. Finance Director Michelle Greis said some of the property tax revenue from the TIF could be used to support safety services.
“Part of fire protection makes sense to be paid for that because we are providing services to that area,” she said. “So, yes, we could do that. It wouldn’t be all the money, we’d have to figure out what makes sense.”
The county is the only entity that receives sales tax and the center is expected to generate about $2 million a year.
There is also a 50 cent for every $100 spent fee at the center, however, those monies all go to the Liberty Community Authority which is like an HOA. Those fees pay for upkeep at the center among other things.
Something Trustee Christine Matacic said residents sometimes don’t understand is that as the tax base gets bigger the township doesn’t get more money from taxes — the same amount of money is spread out among more people.
“I know a lot of people think just because you have growth means you have more money but we’re not,” Matacic said. “The way the levy is stated there’s a maximum that we can collect, so any time you get new businesses coming in and new housing stock coming in that maximum amount gets spread out over everybody so what you’re paying is less.”
Another reader wanted to know why the township hasn’t controlled the rapid growth. Farrell said they can control things with zoning but people have property rights.
“We don’t control the growth this is still America, people have the right to do what they want with their land, he said. “So it is not as if we can sit there and say you cannot build. We can put zoning and rules and regulations in place that help control the types of businesses that enter areas, based on whether the abut residential, but it’s not something we can not allow.”
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