Updated 7/10/18, after discussion with Mr. Andy Rose, Concord’s Administrator.

Back from vacation and ready to work again for the taxpayers of Concord and Lake County.  I received a text message about this public meeting printed in the News-Herald:

Notice of Public Hearing
Concord Township
Board of Trustees

The Concord Township Board of Trustees will conduct two (2) Public Hearings on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at 7:15 pm, and Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 7:00 pm in Concord Township Hall, located at 7229 Ravenna Road in Concord Township, for Resolution #2018-20, to enact a Township permissive motor vehicle license tax pusuant to Ohio Revise Code section 4504.18.

4504.18 Supplemental township license tax.

For the purpose of paying the costs and expenses of enforcing and administering the tax provided for in this section; for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, and repair of township roads, bridges, and culverts; for purchasing, erecting, and maintaining traffic signs, markers, lights, and signals; for purchasing road machinery and equipment, and planning, constructing, and maintaining suitable buildings to house such equipment; for paying any costs apportioned to the township under section 4907.47 of the Revised Code; and to supplement revenue already available for such purposes, the board of township trustees may levy an annual license tax, in addition to the tax levied by sections 4503.02, 4503.07, and 4503.18 of the Revised Code, upon the operation of motor vehicles on the public roads and highways in the unincorporated territory of the township. The tax shall be at the rate of five dollars per motor vehicle on all motor vehicles the owners of which reside in the unincorporated area of the township and shall be in addition to the taxes at the rates specified in sections 4503.04 and 4503.16 of the Revised Code, subject to reductions in the manner provided in section 4503.11 of the Revised Code and the exemptions provided in sections 4503.16, 4503.17, 4503.171, 4503.41, and 4503.43 of the Revised Code.

Prior to the adoption of any resolution under this section, the board of township trustees shall conduct two public hearings thereon, the second hearing to be not less than three nor more than ten days after the first. Notice of the date, time, and place of such hearings shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the township or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, once a week on the same day of the week for two consecutive weeks, the second publication being not less than ten nor more than thirty days prior to the first hearing.

No resolution under this section shall become effective sooner than thirty days following its adoption, and such resolution is subject to a referendum in the same manner, except as to the form of the petition, as provided in division (H) of section 519.12 of the Revised Code for a proposed amendment to a township zoning resolution. In addition, a petition under this section shall be governed by the rules specified in section 3501.38 of the Revised Code. No resolution levying a tax under this section for which a referendum vote has been requested shall go into effect unless approved by a majority of those voting upon it.

A township license tax levied under this section shall continue in effect until repealed.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 07-01-1987; 03-29-2005

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(LFC Comments: This is a Township Levy authorized by the Ohio Revised Code and 100% of revenue collected remains with the Township.  The Concord Trustees supported a $5.00 permissive motor vehicle tax requested by the County Engineer (Mr. Jim Gills), and just approved by the Lake County Commissioners.  So Concord Trustees feel the need to extra more money from the Concord residents.  I will start to ask questions, why the need for the additional money, and which roads are going to be repaired?  I will ask for their comprehensive road plan for Concord Township.)

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Update 7/10/18 – Since Mr. Rose follows our website he was aware that we would be asking for the Comprehensive Road Plan.  Here is what is planned for Concord road maintenance.

Long Range Road Plan2018

Other information provided by Mr. Rose:  The additional $5.00 permissive road tax will bring in about $20,000.  The Trustees thought that this tax would be less onerous than a road levy.  (LFC Comment: It seems to us that this small will not repair many streets. It amounts to ~2% on a $ 1 million road budget.)

The State of Ohio, with Governor Kasich at the helm, decided to push much of the needed tax revenue collection back to the local governments, rather than the State officials having to bear the wrath of the taxpayers.
(LFC Comment – we can agree with this because our research into the local government funds.  The State reduced funding to Lake County by ~$70 million over the last 10 years.  In effect, the governor balanced the State of Ohio budget by shifting the burden to the local taxpayers.

We would like to publicly thank Mr. Rose for his willingness to share his knowledge about governmental affairs, and his approach in dealing with taxpayers.)

Categories: Concord, Lake County Cities & Townships

Tags: FT