Pictured L-R Heidi Fought, Jeremy Shaffer, Matt DeTemple, Tim Sheeley, Joe Fraysier, Nathan Brown
Township Government is one of the oldest forms of local government, and originated to govern rural areas. It is close to the people by design, and the officials serve there neighbors directly solving infrastructure maintenance, safety issues, and other problems such as through keeping roads open by plowing snow, or providing land drainage through culverts and ditching projects. Townships in Ohio have limited Home Rule Power, and Ohio Township responsibilities are outlined in the Ohio Revised Code title V (5).
The Ohio Township Association (OTA) is a statewide organization dedicated to promoting and preserving township government in Ohio, through lobbying efforts and educational forums. The Association was founded on June 28, 1928, and is organized in 87 Ohio counties. The OTA has more than 5,200 active members, made up of trustees and fiscal officers from Ohio's 1,308 townships, and more than 4,000 associate members.(OTA Website)
Funding to Townships and local Government in general has been reduced by the State of Ohio. In the current proposed budget by Gov. Kasich the Local Government Fund (LGF) has been stabilized and a small proposed increase of 4.5% in 2014 & 3.5% in 2015. Let us not forget the LGF was reduced by 25% and 50% just a few years ago.
The services provided by Counties, Townships, and other local Government have the greatest impact on the people of Ohio. It is important that the funding is stabilized, and balanced. Taxes need to stay local, and be invested in local projects so that taxpayers can see a positive tangible effect of their money.
Townships are the backbone of rural Ohio. Studies have proven that they are efficient and get the job of infrastructure maintenance done for less. The services they provide support rural life, and Ohio's Agricultural economy. Townships need everyone's continued support to survive the States fight against local government. Though the proposed funding seems to be guaranteed, the past has shown that to be less than likely. I urge you to get involved and support local Government.
Population of the 17 Townships within Highland County Ohio
Liberty Township 10,242
Madison Township 6,725
Paint Township 4,585
Fairfield Township 3,764
Dodson Township 2,607
Union Township 2,065
New Market Township 1,888
Clay Township 1,431
Concord Township 1,415
Penn Township 1,409
Brushcreek Township 1,381
Whiteoak Township 1,371
Washington Township 1,123
Jackson Township 1,094
Marshall Township 1,029
Salem Township 780
An email I sent to our State General Assemblymen urging them to carve out Guaranteed funding for Townships and local Government.
March 4th 2013
As a County Commissioner, I fully support the current stance of the CCAO on the upcoming Budget. I disagree the State should have any more control over local sales tax. Highland County funding has been reduced by more than $4M in recent years and economic downturn has continued to create further hardships for our county to carry out the required, let alone desired services of my constituents. The Public would be astounded at the term "windfall" be used anywhere when discussing funding for any local government after the consistent reduction of monies at the local level. The attack on community funding is especially disheartening and irresponsible as the State touts depositing more than $235M into the rainy day fund. Local government must be properly funded or given the funding tools required, in order to allow our citizens and Ohio communities to thrive. It is more important now that our local tax dollars stay at home to be used for local projects or services. Local projects and services have an immediate impact on quality of life and job creation in your 91st House District and 17th Senate District.
I have discussed the proposed State budget with many local Township Trustees. They understand that the Local Government Fund, LGF, is fairly safe in the current proposed budget; however they continue to have concerns about the future of township funding. Improper funding will have an unfavorable impact on already struggling rural communities and will result in negative affects on Ohio agricultural. Townships provide roads, drainage, bridges, fire protection, among many other services. Farmers rely on the infrastructure that Townships make available in order to gain access to farm and market. Nearly 1/4 of the populations (2.6 M People) live in rural Ohio. Rural Ohio contains 13,956,563 acres of farmland and 75,800 farms that drive our Agricultural economy.
I have a sensible solution that I would encourage you to propose and support. This solution would help rural Townships, and place some local Governments at ease. It would indirectly assist County Government in carrying out their goals, and will reduce tension between local governments.
If the State of Ohio carries through with the current proposed Budget, and they continue plan to decrease local County Sales tax. I propound that they leave the local sales tax alone. Then take the amount per county that is stated to be the "windfall" portion or amount that would be reduced under the current plan. Use that amount which would have been reduced and allocate it equally to the townships of that County. This makes sense and it gives local Townships more of a stake in the game. Townships already maintain 41,387 miles of roads across the State and this change in funding source will subsequently cause more involvement in economic development, and support of planned projects that provide future sales tax growth. This solution will have positive impacts on the local citizenry across the State, and ensure that local tax dollars stay local. This solution is abridged, and stated in a simple format.
Creating a system and atmosphere that causes local government to fight each other over funding is irresponsible. To continue to split various political subdivisions between rural and metropolitan; then allowing cookie cutter mandates, and unfavorable funding practices to harm the quality of life of Ohio citizens must stop. It is important that solutions our offered and proper changes are made now to support education, local services, and local projects that have the greatest most direct affect on the local public. I’m willing to assist and I urge you to stop the attack on local government, and provide innovative solutions that can bring everyone together for the greater good.
Jeremy Shaffer,
Highland County Commissioner
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