Tuesday, May 09, 2000
Finan backs townships against cities
By Spencer Hunt
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS — Ohio Senate President Richard Finan has a message for city officials fighting proposed limits on their powers to annex land.
“Back off” is the theme of a plainly worded letter the Evendale Republican sent to a group of 75 Ohio cities called the Coalition for Equitable Annexation. The coalition's sole purpose is to defeat a Senate bill that would grant township governments new tools to accept or thwart city land grabs.
At stake is a decades-old fight over which government gets to control and tax property in fast-growing areas. Townships complain state law gives cities unfettered rights to gobble up their land. But the cities coalition says the bill would give townships near-veto powers over annexations.
In his letter, Mr. Finan says the bill is the best deal cities can get. He warns things could get worse next year, if the coalition doesn't get in line.
“Many of you forget that about five years ago the Ohio House passed a township annexation bill far more obnoxious than the current one pending in the Ohio Senate,” Mr. Finan wrote. “I can assure you that if the current pending annexation bill dies, I am not standing in the way of any other township proposals, no matter how draconian they might be in their drafting.”
The city officials say that, despite the letter, they will air their complaints before a Senate committee Wednesday.
“The municipalities in Ohio basically have a gun held to their heads,” said Joyce Bushman, the Pickerington city manager and leader of the cities coalition. “We've been told the townships have the votes.”
The bill would let county commissioners consider the effect a city annexation would have on township properties within a half-mile radius before it is approved. The bill also would let townships collect property taxes on annexed land for up to 15 years.
Ms. Bushman said the bill could make it impossible for cities to grow if townships object. She said it also could supersede a landowner's right to connect his property to city water and sewer services via annexation.
The coalition put these arguments in a letter mailed to 3,000 city officials in April. That prompted an angry response from township officials and supportive lawmakers.
“A lot of care was taken to avoid problems for cities,” said the bill sponsor, Sen. Bob Cupp, R-Lima.
Bill Seitz, a Republican Green Township trustee who is running for the Ohio House, said the bill still gives cities an edge. He said an annexation's effect on nearby township land may not mean much to commissioners mulling what a new development might mean for an entire city.
Mr. Seitz said Mr. Finan's letter boosts the bill's chances for passage.
“It's politically important be cause Sen. Finan has been firmly aligned with the municipalities in the past,” Mr. Seitz said. “I have been on the other end of similar letters.”
Mr. Finan's letter also mentions a township-backed petition drive that would ask voters to eliminate city income taxes on non-residents. Mr. Finan predicts townships will get enough signatures to put the question on the November ballot, if the bill fails.
“If it gets on the ballot, will people vote to reduce their taxes? I'll let you be the judge,” he wrote. “I suggest that you need to have a long term look at where this issue is going.”
On Monday the Senate president said his letter was not meant as a threat. He said Mr. Seitz is one of several GOP House candidates who, if elected, would help pass a tougher annexation bill next year.
“I'm just trying to point out the political reality of where we are in the legislative process and in the General Assembly,” Mr. Finan said Monday. “The Legislature is leaning right now in favor of townships, and I suspect next year it will be even more so.”
Despite the Senate leader's support, Mr. Cupp expects to have a tough time passing his bill over city objections.
The cities coalition has Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman as one of its more outspoken supporters. It also includes 12 Cincinnati-area cities, most from fast-growing regions in Warren, Butler and Clermont counties.
Four of those cities, Carlisle, Lebanon, Mason and Springboro, are in Mr. Finan's legislative district. Mason City Manager Scot Lahrmer said he hopes the coalition can persuade lawmakers to reject the proposal.
“This annexation bill really does step on property owners' rights and it will impede economic development,” Mr. Lahrmer said. “It's important for cities to have the opportunity to grow.”
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