Reality Check on Village Taxes and School Burden

I have made the point during the two recent forums in which the candidates have participated that we need to be more astute with the manner with which we are considering new investments, with an eye toward lowering the overall tax burden on Villagers. At the same time, I've also heard the commentary in response to some question further investment in the school district.

I took the time to review our current tax status from some data at the Hamilton County Auditor's website, and made some quick comparisons with other municipalities (see chart). Comparatively, our overall burden is higher than most communities prior to the application of the reduction factor (explanation here). Of note though is the fact that although our school levy burden is slightly higher than most (13% higher than those listed at right), the municipal burden is nearly 40% higher than those communities listed in the table.

As I view the continued focus on broader investment in the Village Shopping Center, I believe it is critically important that we understand what this new burden might bring, and design a plan that reduces our tax burden through solid business planning, and a more comprehensive understanding of the cash flows from any investment we make in the Center. If the plan to acquire does not include a comprehensive line of sight to improved tax situation for our residents, I will not support it.