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Consultant gives initial report on economic development
Thursday, March 2, 2006
By LORI WINCE
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Representatives of Camoin Associates of New York, the consultant hired to complete an economic development component for the village's strategic plan, made their first report to the New Albany Economic Development Commission late last month.
In addition to presenting a status report on their work to the commission, R. Michael N'dolo and Robert Camoin listened to comments about the commission's expectations.
A key component in preparing the plan will be a business survey the consultant hopes to complete this month -- a document that will help the company "better understand the characteristics of the (village's) business environment and the issues facing it."
Village officials have asked for a link to the survey on the village's Web site for the convenience of business owners and company representatives. Meanwhile, commission members want to know how to get the survey in the hands of those with the most information.
Camoin said they need the help of the commission to get the word out about how important the survey will be to the village's economic development strategic plan.
N'dolo told the commission the Columbus area has weathered the recession well, with overall unemployment rates lower than the rest of the state and the nation. He identified air transportation, hospitals and amusement and recreation as sources of future growth in central Ohio.
Camoin asked about the feasibility of offering services to residents of neighboring Licking County. New Albany Co. president Bill Ebbing said that as the state widens state Route 161, eventually to Granville, it will be a short commute from the Newark area for people who want to shop or work in New Albany.
The consultants are looking at what companies are offered in other areas surrounding the village, Camoin said, hoping to determine what niche market New Albany can attract.
Ebbing said the ultimate goal of economic development is to help ease the residential tax burden. Dublin, he said, has two employees for every resident.
N'dolo pointed out that the village already gets 75 percent of its general revenue from taxes collected from people who work within the village. New Albany community development director Jennifer Chrysler said the village currently has about 7,000 workers and about 6,000 residents.
Camoin Assoc. wants to determine the ideal ratio of residents to workers for New Albany, N'dolo said.
Camoin mentioned that most of the people who work in the village work for one of three companies: Discover, Abercrombie & Fitch and Aetna.
The village would be better off if employees were spread among more employers, because of the huge negative impact of the departure of a single large employer, he said.
Several commission members mentioned that the consultant needs to consider all taxes paid by residents, including school taxes.
Commission vice chair Don Strench said the village needs to look out for the schools, which help draw residents and businesses into the community. The ratio of commercial business to residences also affects school funding.
"The purpose of this whole study is to answer how the residents benefit," Strench said. "If you don't put the school in that, I think you get the wrong answer."
"The results of this (plan) will help us realistically project the types and numbers of commercial development expected, which will be vital to the school's revenue projections," Chrysler said.
Camoin Assoc. plans to finish its economic development strategic plan for the village by June.
Officials, residents talk about school levy
Thursday, January 12, 2006
By LORI WINCE
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Residents in a portion of the New Albany Links subdivision restricted to those age 55 and over questioned New Albany-Plain Local School officials Tuesday night about the operating levy on the Feb. 7 ballot.
Issue 7 is a three-year, 20.70-mill operating levy expected to raise $17.9-million to pay for personnel costs, utilities and supplies.
"Seventy-percent of our budget is tied to operating expenses, which is a fixed part of the budget," Superintendent Steven Castle said.
Some 60 Links residents listened to an hour-long presentation by school officials, in which Castle said 85 percent of the district's revenue is raised locally.
"Fifteen percent of our revenue comes from the state and 85 percent of our revenue comes from us," Castle said. "That's not fair."
He said local school officials have asked legislators to adhere to the Ohio Supreme Court ruling that the present school funding system is unconstitutional and the legislature must fix it. He encouraged Links residents to do the same.
Several residents said increased taxes are hurting them because they live on fixed incomes
"You're killing us," one woman said, asking what she needs to do to change the system.
The crowd applauded when another resident, Bob Hire, asked why the school district is seeking another property tax levy instead of a tax on earned income, which would not affect their group as much.
Hyman Albritton, who worked with the district's finance committee to determine the type of levy needed, explained that the committee was split on which type of tax to ask for. The board decided on a property tax levy, he said, because members felt it had the best chance of passing.
He said it would have been more difficult to educate the community about an income tax levy, which has never been attempted in New Albany-Plain Local. Albritton said the district could have put an income tax levy and a property tax levy on the February ballot, which, together, would have raised $17.9-million. But if one failed, he said, it would cause financial problems.
Albritton said the levy had to be put on the February ballot so the district can ensure it has money to pay its teachers after the fiscal year ends.
Vince Ciroli said because his area of the Links is restricted to those age 55 and older, they do not send children to school but still pay school tax. And their property values diminish, he said, because they cannot send children to the district.
Andy Show, a member of the finance committee and a home broker, argued that property values increase based on the schools' good performance. Jim Smith, another finance committee member, said at least two houses in the area recently sold for $40,000 over what was paid for the homes two years ago.
"I understand you're on a fixed income and more taxes don't help," Smith said. "But that $40,000 does."
Both school board members who attended, Diane Goedeking and George Stribick, are retired. Goedeking said she understands the residents' burden but said at the same time the district "desperately needs your support at the polls."
"I think it was a very worthwhile meeting," resident John Bradshaw said afterward. "I feel we learned a lot and I feel we had the opportunity to express our opinions."
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