Trustees approve Sugar Farm compensation agreement; debate continues over levy restrictions and use of TIF funds

Norwich Township trustees approved a compensation agreement with the City of Columbus for the Sugar Farm development and authorized township officials to sign the agreement after staff said the City would pass the agreement on March 21.

Township Administrator Jamie Fisher and Fiscal Officer Jamie Miles briefed trustees on levy restrictions under Ohio law. Mrs. Fisher explained that pre-2006 levied funds are restricted under ORC 5709.40 to public infrastructure uses, while post-2006 levies have no such restriction. Mrs. Miles told the board that replacing pre-2006 fire levies to remove the restrictions would increase the cost borne by homeowners substantially; she cited a current pre-2006 fire levy cost of $262 per $100,000 in home value and estimated replacement would cost $704 per $100,000. Chief Dave Baird confirmed the compensation agreement covers $22 million over 30 years and that roughly $10 million of that would be unrestricted.

Trustees agreed not to pursue replacing pre-2006 levies because of the heavy tax impact on residents. Separately, staff described SWACO’s proposed non-district tipping-fee increase (from $1 to $4) for out-of-district waste, estimated to generate about $32,000 annually for the landfill; trustees asked for more information and did not act at the meeting. The board also approved a landscaping contract and agricultural-product purchases for township properties and authorized signatures on the compensation agreement.