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By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:26 p.m. EDT, May 19, 2009
More than 850 Summit County homeowners might see a slight jump in their property tax bills next year thanks to a new storm-water maintenance fee.
Well, the fee itself isn't new, but the fact that the county wants to start collecting is.
The county didn't assess the fee when several township subdivisions were built over the last nine years.
Now, county Engineer B. Alan Brubaker, who was elected last year, wants to begin collecting the money.
The fee averages $134 a year per property and lasts for eight years. It would raise $114,133 annually for the engineer.
The engineer's office isn't required to collect the fee, but county leaders say the money is needed to pay for storm-water maintenance projects and those funds are running low. It also would clear up an inequity, with some homeowners paying the assessments while other aren't, they said.
The county will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron. The fees must be approved by County Council.
''People are not happy that they have to pay,'' Council President Nick Kostandaras said.
But the fee shouldn't be a surprise to the homeowners because it was agreed to by the developer and is part of their property deed, said Heidi Swindell, spokeswoman for the engineer's office.
Residents have been understanding when the issue has been explained, she added.
Overall, 865 homeowners in six townships would be affected:
-- Bath Township: Estates of Bath, Estates of Bath Extension and Firestone Trace Phase V.
-- Copley Township: Cherrywood Crossing, Creekside Estates, Creekstone, Hametown Woods No. 4, Hillside Estates, Ridgewood Reserve, Swan Lake Phase IV, West Ridge Estates and Ridge Park Drive Development.
-- Richfield Township: Forest at King's Creek, and Glencairn Forest Phases VII and VIII.
-- Sagamore Hills Township: Red Hawk Reserve.
-- Springfield Township: Mill Run Estates.
-- Twinsburg Township: Twin Oaks and Ridgetop Estates Subdivision No. 1.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
More than 850 Summit County homeowners might see a slight jump in their property tax bills next year thanks to a new storm-water maintenance fee.
Well, the fee itself isn't new, but the fact that the county wants to start collecting is.
The county didn't assess the fee when several township subdivisions were built over the last nine years.
Now, county Engineer B. Alan Brubaker, who was elected last year, wants to begin collecting the money.
The fee averages $134 a year per property and lasts for eight years. It would raise $114,133 annually for the engineer.
The engineer's office isn't required to collect the fee, but county leaders say the money is needed to pay for storm-water maintenance projects and those funds are running low. It also would clear up an inequity, with some homeowners paying the assessments while other aren't, they said.
The county will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron. The fees must be approved by County Council.
''People are not happy that they have to pay,'' Council President Nick Kostandaras said.
But the fee shouldn't be a surprise to the homeowners because it was agreed to by the developer and is part of their property deed, said Heidi Swindell, spokeswoman for the engineer's office.
Residents have been understanding when the issue has been explained, she added.
Overall, 865 homeowners in six townships would be affected:
-- Bath Township: Estates of Bath, Estates of Bath Extension and Firestone Trace Phase V.
-- Copley Township: Cherrywood Crossing, Creekside Estates, Creekstone, Hametown Woods No. 4, Hillside Estates, Ridgewood Reserve, Swan Lake Phase IV, West Ridge Estates and Ridge Park Drive Development.
-- Richfield Township: Forest at King's Creek, and Glencairn Forest Phases VII and VIII.
-- Sagamore Hills Township: Red Hawk Reserve.
-- Springfield Township: Mill Run Estates.
-- Twinsburg Township: Twin Oaks and Ridgetop Estates Subdivision No. 1.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Richfield, OH
Posted 08:58 PM, 05/19/2009
This is nothing more than another tax which amounts to over $1000 over the eight years. It is amazing that Greg Bachman didn't need to collect the "tax" and contined to balance the Engineer's budget every year.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:41 PM, 05/19/2009
==========================
The ABJ story reported:
The county didn't assess the fee when several township subdivisions were built over the last nine years.
-AND-
The fee averages $134 a year per property and lasts for eight years. It would raise $114,133 annually for the engineer.
==========================
$114,133 x 9 years it hasn't been collected = over $1 million in missed revenue.
How is it that Summit County on one hand can overcharge the majority of its homeowners by inflating the valuations of their homes valuations while on the other hand, leaves $1 million uncollected from others?
I think the time has come to vote out the whole lot of them and start over again, fresh!
Akron, oh
Posted 07:31 AM, 05/20/2009
TAX TAX TAX wait until Obama and congress gets done with us. The rich people will be the unemployed.
Make government smaller. get rid of Pelosie and Obama.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:41 AM, 05/20/2009
The water has to go somewhere no matter what. This is jes' another way for the politicians to make money off'n the taxpayers.
