By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A Butler County task force studying competing township and county plans for taxing districts on unbuilt subdivisions could make recommendations in a month, Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens said.

But don't expect to hear much about the group's work until then.

The panel was assembled to eliminate acrimony and distrust between the county and officials with Lakota Schools, West Chester and Liberty townships.

Administrators - not elected officials - will meet behind the scenes "to investigate the issue, so we can make intelligent decisions based on fact," he said.

West Chester Township Trustee George Lang suggested the task force after his township, and county commissioners, each rushed to declare 10 unbuilt West Chester housing developments "residential incentive districts" in the past three weeks.

"To keep politics out of it, I suggested that only the administrators be involved. I think they can get more done than politicians," Lang said.

Incentive districts for unbuilt subdivisions were first suggested last month by county commissioner Michael A. Fox, who is running for re-election in November against Catherine Stoker, West Chester Township trustee president. Fox proposed the county use anticipated property tax revenues from township subdivisions to pay for road and other infrastructure improvements.

Although Ohio communities have used such tax-increment financing for years, including paying for the Union Centre Boulevard interchange, these would be the county's first residential tax districts. Homeowners' taxes would not be affected.

Christine Matacic, Liberty Township trustee and acting administrator, welcomed the task force. Township and school officials have criticized commissioners for acting May 6 without any advance discussions.

"We all want to understand this, and eliminate misconceptions," Matacic said.

One misconception was cleared up last week. Lakota Treasurer Alan Hutchinson admitted he was wrong in saying the county owes Lakota $354,372 since 1999. County Auditor Kay Rogers said the figure would be about $30,000 now - but the first payment won't be due until 2008.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com