Commissioners hear TIF proposal for Liberty Place subdivision; no vote taken

The Board of Clark County Commissioners opened a public hearing April 8 on a proposed tax-increment financing (TIF) plan for the 46-acre Liberty Place subdivision in Moorefield Township, a planned 159-unit single-family development.

Ethan Harris, director of Community and Economic Development, told the board the county retained Bricker Graydon Wyatt to advise on Ohio TIF law and reviewed the project timeline, including rezoning and subdivision approvals. "TIFs come in different shapes and sizes and they support new development," Harris said, explaining that a TIF redirects new tax revenue created by improvements to pay for public infrastructure such as roads and stormwater systems and does not remove existing taxes from neighboring properties.

Harris said projections used in the presentation are based on assumptions about future home values and estimated roughly $22 million in total value generated by the project; after auditor fees and protected levies the remaining amount available for negotiation was described in the presentation as about $9.3 million. Harris stressed those dollar figures are projections and part of ongoing negotiations.

Commission President Sasha L. Rittenhouse told the public the commission is proceeding "slowly and methodically" and intends to finalize distribution terms only after the township, the school districts and the developer reach agreement. No commissioners voted on the TIF at the hearing; the meeting closed after public comment and a procedural motion to adjourn the hearing.

The board indicated a decision will follow further negotiations and that a public update could be scheduled before the commission's planned May 20 decision.