Monday, February 01, 1999
'98 tax breaks land 9 companies
Result: 2,550 jobs; $7.7M for schools
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
UNION TOWNSHIP — Development projects worth $170 million are moving forward in this Butler County township, thanks in part to tax abatements received through enterprise zone agreements in 1998.
Of the 13 companies offered abatements last year, nine accepted them.
Those projects will create or retain 2,550 jobs in the West Chester area, said Matt Bockhorst, president of the township's Community Improvement Corp. Annual payroll taxes will reach $81.5 million when fully developed.
“The impact of those nine projects within 10 years is $7.85 million in new taxes and direct cash payments to the schools,” Mr. Bockhorst said.
Eight of the nine abatements were for companies already operating in Union Township that chose to expand their facilities by building or leasing additional space. Six projects are within the boundaries of Lakota School District; the other three are in Princeton City Schools.
Over the next 10 years, Lakota will receive nearly $5.5 million from the six projects. Princeton will get about $600,000 during the same period from the other three companies, Mr. Bockhorst said.
Another $1.6 million will go to the Butler County Joint Vocational School District.
Tax abatements for the projects ranged from a low of seven years, with 45 percent of taxes abated, to a 75 percent abatement for 10 years given to International Cornerstone Group/Cinmar.
When it comes to recruiting jobs and companies, Union Township still faces stiff competition from other Tristate communities, Mr. Bockhorst said. Some companies that flirted with moving to West Chester chose other locations because they were offered a better incentive package.
“We're grateful for the ones we do land, but we could be more competitive if our policy allowed us to look more on a case-by-case basis,” Mr. Bockhorst told trustees at a meeting last week.
Trustees repeated their goal of reversing previous development trends in the township that saw 60 percent residential development and 40 percent business or industrial growth.
“It's moving, but not as fast as people think,” said Jose Alvarez, president of the township trustees.
“I assume we'll really see some significant changes in three to five years,” Trustee Thomas Hayden added.
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