As Jerome Township Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell presented the 2022 Financial Statement to the Board of Trustees, he said some of the most interesting figures included in the document aren’t related to the budget.
Along with an analysis of the township’s finances over the past year, Caldwell said the statement includes statistical tables that detail growth in the township over the past 10 years.
Whether it is the population, zoning applications or public safety responses, the data shows notable growth in almost every aspect of Jerome Township.
The township’s population grew to 9,212 residents in 2022 from 4,623 in 2013, according to data from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Likewise, the number of registered voters nearly doubled in that timeframe.
While the number of residents grew, the zoning department became busier.
The township issued 193 zoning certificates in 2013. That number jumped to 646 last year, although it was down slightly from the peak of 779 in 2021.
Caldwell also emphasized statistics surrounding the township’s increased public safety measures.
Over the past decade, EMS and fire responses and police calls for service all increased significantly.
In 2013, the township had 411 EMS responses compared to 716 last year, while fire responses jumped from 172 to 474. Caldwell’s report noted that the figures include Millcreek Township since it contracts with the Jerome Township Division of Fire for services.
The number of fire and EMS township employees doubled from 13 to 26 over the same period.
Police calls for service nearly tripled from 2,203 in 2013 to 7,156 in 2022.
Beginning in 2022, the township agreed to pay 25% of the cost of a School Resource Officer (SRO) for Dublin City Schools buildings located in Jerome.
For that reason, the number of police personnel in the township in 2022 is listed as 4.25, compared to 3 in 2013. The township splits the cost of Public Safety Officers (PSOs) 80/20 with Millcreek Township.
Other township employees have grown at a slower rate than those in public service.
The number of zoning and administrative employees remained the same from 2021 to 2022, with three and two in each department respectively.
Public works employees did jump, though, from three to five over the same period.
The reports also lists several financial highlights for 2022.
Caldwell noted that receipts exceeded disbursements for the fire and EMS fund, general fund, zoning fund, road and bridge fund and coronavirus local fiscal recovery fund.
The fire and EMS fund increased by $1,601,346; the general fund by $142,700; the zoning fund by $291,197; the road and bridge fund by $174,524 and the coronavirus recovery fund by $262,608.
In total, the net position of the township increased 28.5% from the year prior.
Caldwell also explained that property taxes represented 55% of the total cash received during the year. Property tax receipts increased by $1,712,612 from the year prior.
In other business:
– The township accepted a $50,000 donation for the parks fund from Bill Westbrook and Matt Callahan on behalf of T-Bill Development Company and Pulte Homes.
Westbrook previously committed to making the contribution during the application process for The Homestead at Scotts Farm residential development.
The Board of Trustees approved the rezoning of 139.4 acres on Brock Road to pave the way for the 248 single-family home development, but the decision was repealed by a referendum votes.
The developers behind The Homestead at Scotts Farm joined other stakeholders as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the township that was ultimately settled, which resulted in the rezoning and approval of development plans for the neighborhood.
– The trustees unanimously approved a revised public records request policy.
The policy was presented to the trustees by Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden, who said he worked together with Caldwell to create a new draft.
Snowden explained that the most recent policy was adopted in 2006, and said Caldwell would respond to every public records request received by the township.
While Caldwell does respond to many requests, Snowden said the zoning department regularly receives requests and provides information to residents as well. He said he feels there is no need to route those requests through Caldwell.
The new policy clarifies that Caldwell may not be the individual who responds to each request.
Snowden added that the new policy was reviewed by Union County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Thayne Gray. Gray’s recommended changes were incorporated into the draft.