Thursday, February 12, 2009

DISCUSSION: NORTH CANTON'S PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL ANSWERS CRITIC - WHO WILL SPEAK FOR JACKSON TWP? CANTON?

REGARDING SCPR POST: ARE STARK COUNTY'S CITY, VILLAGE & TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS OUT TO DESTROY STARK COUNTY'S ECONOMIC FUTURE?

Earlier today an "anonymous" commenter made the following POINT on North Canton's negotiations with Jackson Township regarding possible annexation and/or Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) or Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) zeroing in on Daryl Revoldt's role (as president of North Canton City Council, and probably because the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT expressed a positive take on Revoldt ), to wit:
Daryl Revoldt is the reason all of this is happening right now. It has been his past and present unwillingness to cooperate in good faith with North Canton's neighbors. He had a choice and he blew North Canton's chances once again.
To his credit, Council President Revoldt by name responded to the commenter's "point" with this COUNTERPOINT, to wit:
First, I did not particpate in the negotiations with jackson. The mayor, two
members of council and outside counsel participated.

However, I did insist that the city approach the agreement like a business
deal. Legal council reviewed the terms and we modeled the tax sharing
formula.

The contract required the city surrender annexation rights for 99 years, but
did not require Jackson perform with any CEDA or JEDD. In fact, I suggested
to our team that we sunset the agreement if no JEDD or CEDA action occur.

With regard to the tax sharing formula, the agreement required the city make
Jackson "whole." on property tax and that we split any income tax revenue
50/50. We created 8 study areas. We modeled one with 122 properties. If the
city adhered to the propsed tax sharing formula, the city in the single study
area alone would have owed Jackson nearly $100,000. The city's take: $0.

During the study process, the city was constantly pressured to enter the
agreement: Canton will get it, Canton will get it.

Common sense, not pressure or public relations had to drive a deal of 99
years.

We knew from our earlier analysis of the Plain CEDA proposal that Jackson is
filled with buildings that have high property taxes, but have relatively few
jobs, hence a very low income tax yield. We confirmed to out satisfaction
that the proposed formula wasn't good business. This simple fact should
caution Canton.

Our team concluded that the proposal was unworkable. Jackson telephonically
was quickly advised that the tax sharing proposal didn't work. It did not ask
to review our worksheets or offer a counter proposal.

The matter ended there.

Has Revoldt effectively answered his critic?

Why so?

Why not?

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