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Plain City opposes proposed annexation changes and property-tax relief bills; village submitted written testimony
Summary
Village officials told the council they submitted written testimony opposing House Bill 113 (changes to annexation governance) and House Bill 335 (property tax relief), citing home-rule concerns and potential budget impacts for police and schools.
Village Administrator Miss Lofton told the Plain City Council that the village submitted written testimony opposing two recently introduced bills in the Ohio House: House Bill 113, which would shift some annexation confirmation authority to county commissioners and change expedited annexation thresholds, and House Bill 335, a broad property-tax relief proposal.
“We don't believe that that is the county's power to state,” Miss Lofton said of HB 113, adding that the village believes annexation decisions should remain part of local home-rule authority. She said the bill would reduce the expedited annexation threshold from 500 acres to 200 acres and increase a contiguous-boundary requirement from 5% to 20%.
On HB 335, Lofton described concerns about how the bill would affect municipal and school financing. “We don't feel like this is the correct way to give property owners relief,” she said. Lofton said the John Palmer School Board expects to submit a letter and that village police and the aquatic center depend on property-tax revenue. “If property tax is done away with or if it's reduced in the amount that this bill suggests, we'll have to make major cuts,” she said.
Lofton said the mayor, herself, Mr. Stanford and Mr. Terry signed the village’s written testimony opposing HB 113. She also said village staff is coordinating with the school board and that the village would consider joining a joint letter from the school board opposing HB 335.
Why it matters: changes to annexation law would affect municipal control over growth and planning. Substantial property-tax relief at the state level could reduce local revenue streams used to fund police, schools and other services.
The council did not take a formal vote at the meeting; Lofton said the village had proactively filed written testimony and will monitor legislation as it moves through the General Assembly.
Ending: Lofton said she would keep the council updated and offered to share materials prepared for state lawmakers.
