Growth will pay for itself, right?
That’s what Marysville residents continue to hear from elected officials, but instead what has resulted is higher tax bills.
We remember 20 years ago when the area finally reached 5,000 rooftops and garnered the attention of big name stores and businesses. We say that because development back then was at a snail’s pace in Union County, but the change was desired by those who lived here to boost their quality of life.
Twenty years later we still have an economic development strategy giving away tax abatement after abatement to prospective investors to promote growth at all costs.
Why is that?
Is land a bargain here in Union County? Just ask anyone paying their taxes in February and we think you will get the answer.
Now that the community has had so many more people moving into the area, we think the disconnect between taxpayers and the economic development strategy is the public believes that too much future money is being handed out which lowers the barrier to enter this community. Would you believe that a government entity has paid more than $165,000 to a new building owner in Innovation Park for space that it doesn’t yet occupy?
These kinds of deals and others are why more residents are speaking up and feel empowered to take action. They have voted elected officials out of office and even recently passed a referendum. They have even gone as far as bringing the Journal-Tribune to meetings citing our stories, which we appreciate. It shows that we are doing our job to give a voice to the taxpayer when it comes to how their money is being spent. We do that in the hope that any new project will be vetted so it will not only benefit the community but also to ensure that it will pay for itself.
On the agenda for January, there are two new $100 million plans being presented for council for approval. One is the Marysville East project that is next to Buxton Meadows and the other is Marysville Connect planned for North Main Street. Those plans can transform this area over the next 30 years if approved, but is it the right thing for local residents future quality of life?
We are still trying to figure that out ourselves, but what we do know is for the last 20 years this community has been on a marathon development pace and we are not even near a finish line. So why do things need to be sped up to a sprint with all that this area has to offer?
As we move into 2024, those are questions that need to be answered because J-T subscribers and readers continue to ask why they are paying for someone else to come here and make money?