London City Council adopts amended TIF for 19 incentive districts, rejects small income-tax credit and approves bids for pickleball courts

At a meeting of the London City Council, members voted to adopt an amended tax-increment financing ordinance covering 19 incentive districts and approved steps to advertise for bids on four pickleball courts, while rejecting a proposed city income-tax credit for residents who work outside the city.

The council adopted Ordinance 207-24 after amending the tax-increment financing (TIF) agreement that is attached as an exhibit to the ordinance. President Peters moved to replace the existing financing agreement with a revised “hard” document and said the new text “represents, I think, the best deal for the developer as well as for the city.” Council members then approved the amendment and adopted the ordinance as amended. The TIF language identifies public infrastructure improvements that will benefit parcels inside the incentive districts, requires owners to make service payments in lieu of taxes, and establishes a fund for distribution of those payments, including authorized payments to the London City School District and to career-technical centers.

The adoption follows extended prior discussion and a multi-step amendment process during the meeting. The ordinance as adopted also names Tomcat LLC in the financing documents attached to the measure.

The council considered, but did not adopt, Ordinance 119-25, a proposal to restore a 0.25% income-tax credit for city residents who work outside the municipality. Proponents said the credit would help residents who face more vehicle wear, fuel costs and time commuting. Opponents and some council members said the city cannot afford the immediate revenue loss given current budget uncertainty. Council members debated which portion of the city’s income-tax levy the credit would affect; staff clarified the city’s general income-tax rate is 1% and that the credited amount would be taken from that general 1% (not from the 0.5% dedicated to the fire department). The council’s city auditor provided two figures during discussion: an initial remark that the general fund was down about $2,000,000 was corrected in the meeting record; the auditor later said the fund was down $88,932 through February. After debate the council voted against the measure and it failed on final vote.

On spending and procurement, the council approved Resolution 126-25 authorizing the safety-service director to advertise for bids for four pickleball courts. The measure proceeds to the bidding stage, with staff directed to solicit cost estimates and return with recommendations. The council also adopted a measure to advertise for bids to sell city property no longer needed for municipal purposes, including an older Durapatcher and lawn mower.

Several other items involving development incentives and long-range planning remained active but not concluded. Ordinance 209-24, the commercial portion of a TIF package described in the meeting as requiring school-board approval, was left on the agenda so the school board can meet and approve related documents before the council acts. The council also discussed a proposed London Gateway New Community Authority (Resolution 1304-25) and left that item on second reading while additional language and board appointments are finalized.

City administration updates included an announcement that the former Intelligrated/Honeywell building — previously expected to house a cable manufacturing operation — was being offered for sale for $17,500,000 after the prospective purchaser postponed the project. The city administrator said staff will continue working with One Columbus and local brokers to recruit a user for the large building. Officials also reported that representatives for both Starbucks and Aldi said they expect to break ground on projects by month’s end.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 207-24 (TIF establishing 19 incentive districts; authorizing amended financing agreement attached): Adopted (motion to amend financing agreement passed; ordinance adopted as amended). Vote recorded in the transcript as a majority yes during roll call for the amendment and adoption.

- Ordinance 209-24 (commercial TIF / TIF technical documents): Left on the agenda (not ready; awaiting school-board action).

- Ordinance 119-25 (0.25% income-tax credit for residents working outside city): Failed on final vote after roll-call voting during the meeting.

- Resolution 126-25 (advertise for bids for four pickleball courts): Adopted (authorized staff to solicit bids).

- Resolution 128-25 (advertise for bids for personal property no longer needed — old Durapatcher and mower): Adopted after suspension of rules to proceed with bidding.

- Ordinance 132-25 (contractor licensing fees and updated insurance/bond language): Council replaced the initially posted attachment with a revised document incorporating insurer-recommended insurance amounts and a bond provision; the revised attachment was adopted for consideration and the ordinance remains on the agenda for further review.

Why it matters

The TIF adoption establishes tax-increment mechanisms and payment-in-lieu arrangements that will shape incentives, infrastructure financing and tax revenue flows for residential and commercial development in the designated incentive districts. The defeated income-tax credit would have reduced general-fund revenue; council members cited current revenue uncertainty and recent economic setbacks — including the collapse of a planned project at the Honeywell/Intelligrated building — as reasons to delay broad tax relief. Approving procurement steps for park amenities and surplus-equipment sales moves capital and maintenance planning forward.

What’s next

Staff were directed to proceed with bidding for the pickleball courts and to continue negotiations and follow-up on the adopted TIF documents; the commercial TIF and the London Gateway New Community Authority remain pending until additional documents and board appointments are completed. The city also plans an open house on the comprehensive plan on April 9 and will continue outreach regarding redevelopment opportunities for the Honeywell building.

Ending

Council members closed the meeting with committee reports and round-table remarks encouraging volunteer support for the London Marathon and noting several upcoming community events. The council also recognized Executive Assistant Eve Breedlove, who announced she will relocate in July; the administration plans to revise the executive-assistant job description to emphasize social-media and marketing duties before hiring a successor.