The Brimfield Board of Trustees opened a zoning and economic development update that emphasized new development revenue streams and upcoming tax-increment financing (TIF) actions.

Trustees said zoning fees since 2018 have contributed $989,288.70 to the township general fund and that joint economic development (JED) receipts this year totaled $1,743,261.18. Under the trustees' allocation, 30% of JED/TIF distributions go to police, 30% to fire, 30% to roads and 10% to the general fund, the presentation said.

"TIFs are a win-win operation option for any local government," a trustee told the board during the presentation, noting the township recently signed a check to local schools for more than $90,000 from TIF-derived funds.

The trustees listed several active or imminent projects that will affect taxable value and township services: a planned St. Edward senior living facility that the Portage County Development Board recognized with a Locate Award (83 jobs, $21.2 million invested, roughly $4.8 million in payroll), a Woodland Reserve condominium development that will extend water and sewer along State Route 43, and commercial projects including a Dunkin' and a Drug Mart store scheduled to open Nov. 12, 2025. The board said some projects have required TIFs and joint economic development agreements to make water/sewer and infrastructure extensions feasible.

Trustees framed the development revenue as an alternative to running additional levies. One trustee warned that repealing or micromanaging zoning boards could force the township to seek more property-tax levies.

Opponents and some residents in the meeting and local election season voiced concerns about growth and the role of zoning. The trustee speaker urged residents to consider that new homeowners and businesses also generate the tax revenue that supports township services.

The board noted that formal TIF notices will be circulated to affected districts and that approvals will follow required notice periods; trustees signaled upcoming hearings over the next several meetings. No final vote on new TIFs was taken at this meeting.

The trustees said the TIF and JED revenues are being distributed under established formulas and that notices to affected school districts and other taxing authorities will precede any formal TIF approval votes.

Ending: The trustees characterized the development activity as a managed-growth approach intended to fund public safety and road services without immediate levy requests; they said residents would see public notices and additional meetings as individual TIFs move toward formal approval.