Affordable Concord Taxes - ACT

11/02/2020

The News-Herald
Another Viewpoint Regarding Concord Township Issue 1
Submitted October 29, 2020

The upcoming election represents enormous consequences, certainly on a national level but there are many important local issues as well. And none are more contested than the Issue 1 tax levy being put forth by the trustees of Concord Township to fund a single, exorbitant fire station when both of our community’s stations sorely need to be replaced. And beyond the inappropriate size and cost of the proposed fire stations is the misdirected attempt of our trustees to try and fund this capital project with yet another tax increase.

Factual information is critical for Concord’s voters to be able to support the needs of our first responders, but in a way that taps into other available funding sources and not another rush to burden the residents of this relatively small community with additional taxes.

And the frustrating part of this whole debate is it is nearly the exact same as we at Affordable Concord Taxes (ACT) and our many supporters addressed just one year ago. But in that case, more than 65% of Concord’s voters sent a very clear message to the trustees and Township administration that we refused to pay any more additional taxes and we expected the trustees to go back to the drawing table and present revised plans that were more reasonable and cost-effective – all in line with the size and emergency service needs of a township the size of Concord.

And yet, here we are again. They’ve proposed the same enormous stations and want to raise residents’ taxes for 26 years. The trustees talk about the monthly payment per household will be small, but $1600 over the life of the levy is a lot. It’s important to note that many residents chose the semi-rural lifestyle and benefits of our township because of the lower taxes and with the idea they would retire here, meaning they would be dependent on lower income levels then.

So the facts are important but unfortunately, and just like the national presidential election, there are many claims of “fake news” by the Township.

Here are the facts:
Fact No. 1: The $8 million tax levy will only pay for one enormous $8.8 million main station and the Township plans to spend a total of $13.75 million for both stations.

Fact No. 2: The trustees can build both new fire stations economically, starting with Station No. 2, without raising taxes. Their own financial presentation on July 14,2020 showed the way forward. And they would still have more than $600,000 annually for any emergency expense.

Fact No. 3: The trustees are asking citizens to fund the stations, so they have a large “slush fund” for other unpopular township projects. The trustees collect more than $1 million of special business and employee taxes each year. Over the 26-year levy, that’s $26 million for their “other projects,” such as the restarted Town Center on Capital Parkway.

Fact No. 4: Concord’s plan is excessive compared to fire stations built in the last two years in similar Ohio townships. Concord is a township and it’s not appropriate to compare the cost for stations to cities or municipalities. Other townships we’ve talked to spend $100 to $200 less per square foot on their stations and still provide premiere safety features for their first responders.

ACT strongly encourages the residents of Concord Township to defeat Issue 1 and send a clear message to our elected officials - once again - to meet the safety service needs of our community in a more fiscally responsible manner.


Stephen Lee
7391 Far Hills Dr.
Concord, OH 44077
440-520-6073

10/28/2020

The Trustees' financial presentation shows they can use existing taxes to secure financing for both stations -- without raising our taxes. They can start building as soon as they develop more economical plans that still meet Concord’s future safety needs. This approach equally respects first responders and Concord taxpayers. It is unnecessary for Concord residents to raise their taxes with an $8 million tax levy that lasts for 26 years and only pays for one station. For all the information, go to www.AffordableConcordTaxes.com.

10/27/2020

10/27/2020

10/27/2020

The Trustees can secure the funding to build new fire stations right away - without raising taxes. Yet, they are asking citizens to fund the stations, so they have a large “slush fund” for other unpopular township projects.

The Trustees collect more than $1 million of special business and employee taxes each year. Over the 26-year levy, that’s $26 million for their “other projects,” such as the restarted Town Center on Capital Parkway.

Vote NO, again, to higher taxes for 26 years.

10/27/2020

Concord’s plan is excessive compared to fire stations built in the last two years in similar Ohio Townships. Concord is a TOWNSHIP, not a city, and doesn’t collect income tax from residents. Concord Trustees should propose reasonable stations in which the size and cost per square foot is in line with other TOWNSHIPS. It’s not appropriate to compare station costs from CITIES to Concord Township plans.

The above data is directly from the Fire Chief/Lieutenant at each fire station. In discussions with them, it is clear that Concord’s proposed stations could easily be reduced in size and cost and still provide first-rate and safe accommodations for our first responders.

These townships were chosen because they built a new station in the last two years, have two stations in their township and have a similar population and number of emergency calls as Concord.
Remember, our Trustees CAN secure financing and build economical new fire stations right away — without raising our taxes.

10/27/2020

As printed in the News-Herald, Another Viewpoint.
Monday, October 26, 2020

Vote no on Concord bond issue

I am writing this article as a 50-year Concord resident, business consultant and former CEO who has managed and overseen many construction projects worth millions of dollars.

One year ago, I joined many of my neighbors and friends to inform voters that Concord could build cost-effective fire stations without raising taxes. The message was heard, and citizens voted two to one to reject the trustees' proposal to build a massive fire station funded by a tax increase.

After the election, I was hopeful that our new trustees would listen to their voters, learn from what similar Ohio townships have done, and quickly come back with a plan to build reasonably sized, cost-effective stations that could be funded with existing township revenue.

If the Trustees had truly listened to the many residents who took the time to attend the "Stakeholder Meetings" back in June and July, they would have implemented the plan they presented, which would use existing taxes to secure financing without raising our taxes and begin building immediately.

Instead, the Trustees proposed an $8 million tax levy that will raise our taxes for 26 years.
Issue 1 only determines how stations are funded. Our first responders deserve safe and updated, but reasonable, facilities.

In fact, the proposed $8 million tax levy will only pay for one enormous $8.8 million main station on Rt. 608, while Station No. 2 on Prouty Rd. -- and which is the neediest of the two -- would not be built for years.

I oppose the 26-year tax increase and the Township's plan to spend $13.75 million for constructing two fire stations, because it will be used to fund stations that are inappropriate to our community's specific needs. Concord is currently being served by two fire stations that total about 8,000 square feet, and receives an excellent ISO 4 rating, which will not improve with new stations.

The justification for bigger stations is to accommodate equipment and operations that are now held outside of the existing stations -- three desks for fire prevention staff, as well as storage space for 10 file cabinets, an ATV style rescue unit and a reserve ambulance. Yes, an improved decontamination area is needed.

But these additions do not justify a quadruple increase in size, with the additional 27,000 square feet.
I also oppose the tax increase because the cost per square foot is excessive.

To call the proposed Station No. 1 a Taj Mahal is not far off, with an estimated cost per square foot of $372, and Station No. 2 has a cost estimate of $430 per square foot. Consider the following comparisons with similar fire stations recently built in townships elsewhere in the state.

The Fire Chief of Truro Township, outside Columbus, reports that they built a 16,400 square foot station for $3.7 million, or $226 per square foot in 2020. And they have more than 7,500 emergency calls per year, compared to 2,639 calls for Concord.

Cincinnati area Goshen Township did even better, building their most recent station for $220 per square foot in 2018, said their Fire Department Lieutenant.

I also oppose paying for any fire station with a tax increase because the township can secure financing that won't raise our taxes and utilize their existing special business and employee taxes, totaling over $1 million annually.

The majority are the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) funds, set up "provide a funding mechanism to pay for infrastructure and safety issues without increasing property taxes across the township."

Historically, this slush fund has been used for Trustees' pet projects without taxpayer approval, such as the millions spent on the failed Town Center/ Capital Parkway roundabout project.

We have been told that the tax increase is "affordable," but I don't think that it is affordable to spend $1,600 for the average household -- or $63 per year for 26 years -- for excessive stations that can be funded by the Township via other means that won't raise our taxes.

I urge all Concord residents to Vote No on Issue 1 on November 3.


John Pesec
Concord Township Resident

10/24/2020

Unedited Letter to the Editor, News-Herald

Vote NO on fire issue 1, the rest of the story

As a 26 year Concord Resident I recently retired from Perry Nuclear after 37 years holding positions as a licensed operator, training instructor, fire brigade leader, and emergency responder. I became interested in the Concord Fire Station planning and financing. I attended a planning meeting in February and two of the three stakeholder meetings held this summer. Despite concerned citizen feedback given to the Trustees at these and other meetings, they have chosen to put an unnecessary tax burden on the citizens of Concord AGAIN by outwardly supporting Issue 1, the 8 million, 26 year levy.

In violation of Ohio Revised Code 9.03, the Trustees have misused taxpayer money by actively supporting the passage of Issue 1. They used the township newsletter “Grapevine” as well as the electronic version sending a hard copy to every resident, heavily promoting their stance at meetings and their website as well. Opposition to this plan has been muzzled by the Township as no other financial planning options were ever discussed or shared in township communications. Basically it was their way, or the highway.

The “newly planned” stations are still excessive despite the meetings and feedback given. The Trustees came up with essentially the same size and priced stations that were presented and failed last November when 65% of the voters said NO to that tax increase. I doubt voters were looking for the same levy again this year.

The Trustees can and should secure financing now to build both stations WITHOUT raising taxes. To reduce the financial burden, they need to significantly reduce the size and cost of their expensive stations. More importantly, the Trustees should embrace the loudest outcry of disregarded residents to build the neediest Station 2 on Prouty Road first.

Jobs have been lost, businesses are struggling to stay afloat. Concord has 2.5 million dollars on hand NOW to get started and can quickly secure financing without raising taxes.

The first responders have waited long enough!

I strongly encourage Concord residents to VOTE NO on Issue 1. Send a clear message to our Trustees that we demand new stations without adding new taxes.

Michael McCullough Concord Township

10/20/2020

Concord's $8 million tax levy is unnecessary, lasts for 26 years and only pays for one station. For the facts, not township spin,, go to www.AffordableConcordTaxes.com. The Trustees CAN secure financing and build economical new fire stations right away — without raising our taxes.

10/16/2020

Voting No on Issue 1 ensures economical new fire stations and no tax increase.

10/10/2020

Defeating Issue 1 is critical. We ask that you Vote No, again, to higher taxes for 26 years. A No vote ensures our Trustees will be fiscally responsible with all our tax dollars.

There is a better way forward that equally respects first responders and Concord taxpayers. The Trustees have clearly demonstrated they can use existing taxes to secure financing for the stations that will not raise our taxes. Then, they can come back with more economical plans that still meet Concord’s future safety needs and start construction right away.

We produced the informational postcard to offer a comprehensive overview of why so many Concord residents have concerns about the proposed new fire stations. (To see a high-resolution image, open the ACT Postcard attachment.)

The concerns include how excessive the plans still are compared to last year and compared to similar-sized townships that have built new stations in the last two years. New stations do not need to cost citizens $13.75 million for a main and satellite station.
To clarify some misinformation, the $8 million proposed tax levy will only build one enormous Station 1, leaving the neediest Station 2 to be built years later.

We appreciate your support and it would be a great help if you could forward this email and attachment to as many of your Concord neighbors and friends as possible.

Again, we fully support our first responders as this is our home, too. We’re simply asking the people we elected to avoid unnecessary taxes by planning reasonable stations and effectively utilizing all revenue.

With you in making a difference,

Bob Sanderson
Treasurer

PS: Check out ACT’s website at www.affordableconcordtaxes.com, for additional information.

PRO FIREFIGHTERS • PRO CONCORD • PRO TAXPAYERS

Paid for by Affordable Concord Taxes - ACT