Income tax increase would allow Avon to buy parkland

Issue 8 What it is: A proposed 0.15 percent increase in the city's income tax rate Duration: 10 years How much it would raise: Estimated to raise $1.948 million per year Purpose: To fund the purchase of potential parkland within the city Cost to taxpayer: The city's income tax rate would increase from 1.75 percent to 1.9 percent. AVON — A proposed income tax increase would allow Avon to purchase land for new city parks, preventing that same land from being used for residential developments. If Avon voters support Issue 8 this spring, the city's income tax rate would rise from 1.75 percent to 1.9 percent. Additionally, the city's income tax resident credit would increase from 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent. That means an Avon resident who works somewhere else would get credit in Avon for up to 1.6 percent, said finance director Bill Logan. The intent of the city buying the land would be to preserve it in its natural state, according to Mayor Bryan Jensen. Though there could be some small playgrounds installed, he said the city's hope is that most of the land would be kept as-is with the potential of some trails. Jensen said many landowners in Avon want to sell their property as they grow older, but they usually prefer to see it kept natural. At the same time, other residents attend city meetings to voice their opposition to new residential developments planned on previously natural land. "My position as mayor is that people have asked us to stop development. We are trying to come up with a solution that will help some of it. It certainly won't stop it all," Jensen said. He said this "unique approach" has been in the works for almost three years, and he believes the city would be competitive in purchasing the potential parkland. The city would try to get a fair price and purchase this land right around the appraised value, Jensen said, with not much over 5 percent of flexibility. The city's hope would be to combine the additional income tax revenue with grant funding to make even more of an impact. Jensen said there is grant funding available from programs like Clean Ohio and H2Ohio. Additionally, if Issue 8 passes, the administration would ask City Council to abolish a current 0.35-mill recreation property tax levy that costs homeowners about $11.33 per $100,000 home valuation. That levy is currently scheduled to collect through 2023. Instead of viewing the proposed income tax increase as an attempt to block new residential development, Jensen said he looks at it "more as trying to preserve the acreage we have." As the city becomes less rural, he said there are also concerns about where wildlife will go. Whether Issue 8 passes or fails, Jensen said city officials are always in communication with landowners about the city's potential interest in purchasing property for parkland if they decide to sell. In fact, Avon's new Eagle Point Park was purchased recently from the Kurtz Brothers Nursery and has been improved with the assistance of grant funding. If residents want to see the city buy more parkland, Jensen said he believes the issue will pass resoundingly. If not, it will fail. "It was one of those (situations) where I wanted residents to have a say in it," he said. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com.