WARREN COUNTY LAND MAY GET PROPERTY TAX CUTS
“Prime real estate” near I-75 could have added allure for developers.
Warren County comLEBANON — missioners laid the groundwork on Tuesday to forgive property taxes for the commercial or industrial developers of some of the last large parcels of undeveloped land along the Interstate 75 corridor between Dayton and Cincinnati.
Commissioners Dave Young expressed reluctance about setting up a community investment area in the area. It would enable tax breaks to be offered on devel- opment of more than 1,200 acres east of the I-75 interchange at Ohio 63.
“This is prime real estate, five minutes off the highway. It’s going to develop,” Young said.
However Young agreed with Economic Development Director Matthew Schnipke that the county needed the economic development incentive in negotiating for top companies shopping for new places to bring expansions and quality jobs.
“If we want to be a player in those games, sometimes you’ve got to play the game,” Young said.
With Commissioner Shannon Jones absent, Young and Commissioner Tom Grossmann voted to establish the tax abatement zone on land the state of Ohio owns adjacent to the Warren Correction and Lebanon Correctional institutions, in addition to farm property southeast of the Union Village planned community on Ohio 741 in Turtlecreek Twp.
The land is located near the two state prisons, the Miami Valley Gaming & Racing racino and Park North Commerce Park, where Amazon and other businesses have already set up large distribution centers east of the interchange.
More than 1,100 acres is undeveloped prison land the county and development interests want the state to sell. About 162 acres
on Ohio 741 is owned by Margaret White, according to county property records.
After the meeting, Deputy Administrator Martin Russell said the farmland and a deteriorating home on it were included in the zone in order to qualify it for incentives in state law for community reinvestments.
The vote means that tax abatements of up to 75 percent for 15 years can be offered in deals bringing industrial or commercial developments.
The tax breaks would likely be offered in combination with a joint economic development district enabling unincorporated Turtlecreek Twp. to collect income taxes from the new jobs and businesses.
“It’s a good tool to have,” Schnipke said.
The bulk of the taxes forgiven would have been paid to support the Lebanon City Schools, but the current school administration has not objected to the abatements.
“Based upon our initial discussion of the proposed Community Reinvestment Area, the Lebanon City School District is supportive of creating an area to attract and maintain commercial and industrial development within the school district,” Treasurer Eric Sotzing said in a Sept. 24 letter to Turtlecreek Twp. Administrator Tammy Boggs.
The township already has a community investment area at Interstate 71 and Ohio 123, east of Lebanon.
The trustees lack authority to create the tax-abatement zones without working through the county commissioners.
Negotiations continue with the state on sale of the 1,100plus acres adjacent to the two prisons on Ohio 63.
State law sets a deadline for sale by the end of September 2019, Boggs said on Tuesday.
An application will be made to the state to set up the community reinvestment area.