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Plain City council agrees to pursue joint opposition to H.B. 113 and H.B. 335 over annexation and tax concerns
Summary
Village Administrator Haley Lupton told Council that H.B. 113 would shift certain annexation authority to county commissioners and H.B. 335 would significantly affect property tax revenue; Council agreed unanimously to seek a joint letter of opposition with the local school board and other partners.
Village Administrator Haley Lupton briefed Plain City Council on two pending Ohio House measures and councilors agreed to pursue a joint letter of opposition with the Jonathan Alder Local School District.
Lupton said House Bill 113 would realign some annexation authority from municipalities to county commissioners and would change contiguous boundary and acreage requirements, a shift she described as harmful to municipal planning authority. She said she, Mayor Jody Carney and Council President M. Terry had already submitted a letter opposing the bill.
Lupton also outlined concerns about House Bill 335, which she said would 'significantly impact property tax in Ohio.' Finance Director Renee' Sonnett told Council the Village depends on property tax revenue for police services and the Aquatic Center loan; Sonnett said passage could reduce the Village’s borrowing power because a property-tax-backed levy could no longer be used to secure borrowing and the Village would be limited to income-tax-backed debt.
Councilors said they share these concerns. Mr. Eudaily noted the School District has completed research on the topic, and Council unanimously agreed to coordinate a joint opposition letter and to consider signing together with the School Board.
Council did not take a formal legislative vote tonight beyond agreeing to pursue the joint letter; Lupton said the School Board plans to submit its own letter and that Council can sign jointly when appropriate.
