More than four years after the process began, officials in Marysville and Jerome Township are still hopeful they can come to an economic development agreement for the area.
Both Marysville and Jerome Township say they want to move forward with creation of a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) within Jerome Township.
At a recent meeting, Jerome Township Trustee Ron Rhodes reported that he had spoken with Marysville City Manager Terry Emery about reviving talks on the matter. It appeared an agreement had been reached in 2017, though it fell through over communication issues.
Nobody could say definitely why the agreement wasn’t completed.
“I think we are more than ready to get something done,” said trustee Joe Craft.
Emery said the City of Marysville is already providing water and sewer to businesses in the area. He said the city continues to provide those services and collect the reoccurring monthly bills regardless of the agreement.
“We are in position to serve future businesses and future development,” Emery said. “It is Jerome Township that is really losing, but we also see the value in putting money back into that area.”
As part of the last proposed agreement, new businesses in the district, along with their employees, would be subject to the Marysville’s 1.5 percent income tax. If the city income tax changes, so will the tax imposed in the JEDD.
According to the agreement, 55 percent of the revenue generated by the JEDD would be used for infrastructure construction and improvement in the district or benefitting the district, 10 percent would be dedicated for economic development marketing of the JEDD area, five percent would be used for administrative purposes of the JEDD board and the remaining 30 percent will be split between the city and the township. The city will administer the income tax and its collection.
The approved document does not include a map or detail the district boundaries. Emery said he does not know the exact boundaries, but understands it is large enough that, “any new development within the township will fall within the JEDD area.”
Officials have said they do not know how much revenue to expect from the district.
“It won’t mean a lot in the short term, but over time, it will build and it will build a fund we can use to enhance the area,” Emery said.
Emery said that is the point — to enhance the area. He said Marysville will collect and distribute the revenue, a process he expects will cost about 3 percent. Beyond that, Emery said, the remainder of Marysville’s portion of the receipts will go back into the JEDD and are for a variety of projects. Emery said the area needs a lot of infrastructure improvements to enhance projected future business growth.
The agreement says Jerome Township’s portion, “may be used for any lawful purpose.”
“I think, at the end of the day, there is a philosophical difference in how to use the funds and how much of the funds should be at their discretion,” Emery said. “I think they want a little more flexibility.”
Emery said Marysville has followed the same process with Jerome Township that it used in creating a JEDD for Milcreek Township.
“We entered into that agreement without any hesitation by the township trustees or the City of Marysville,” Emery said.
The Marysville administrator said the relationship can be frustrating at times because there are often obstacles, “and we don’t always know what those obstacles are.”
Jerome Township officials said they too have been frustrated at times, but believe an agreement can be reached.
“I think all parties have been negotiating in good faith,” said trustee C.J. Lovejoy.
The trustees have agreed to meet with the township zoning attorney for advice.
“I want to have those discussions before we sit down with anybody else,” said Rhodes.
Emery said if the city and township can come to an agreement, it will benefit the residents in both areas.
“We value continuing to build that relationship,” Emery said. “We believe a JEDD can be beneficial to Jerome but also to Marysville because we can put money back into the area and invest in that area’s development as an opportunity to enhance Marysville’s water and sewer.”
He added, “think of all the businesses that have gone in in the last three years, that we would have been getting money from in that area.”
Whether or not officials reach an agreement, some feel the process is coming to a close.
“We are not spending any more money on this,” Rhodes said. “This is the last swing at it as far as I am concerned.”