Finance Committee

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Finance Committee Jamie Leeseberg, Chair Brian Metzbower, President Stephen A. Renner, Vice President Karen J. Angelou Brian D. Larick Nancy R. McGregor Michael Schnetzer Kimberly Banning, Clerk of Council Monday, February 25, 2019 Council Committee Room *Immediately following the Committe of the Whole CALL TO ORDER Chair Jamie Leeseberg called the meeting to order at 7:48 p.m. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: - Credit for taxes paid to other municipalities Leeseberg stated there was a request by Schnetzer to bring this back for further discussion due to the pending item: what to do with the credit percentage; stated we have had Public Hearings but never resolved this part; asked what does Council want. Ewald said this can be contingent on the ballot; asked what is the will of Council for credit paid to other municipalities; must wait until March 25 to vote. Angelou said this issue came up at the Creekside District Alliance; many people there said make it a zero credit. Larick said those are business people. Angelou said there would be more money to do the things we want to do; feels confident the issue will pass on the ballot this time; uncomfortable with a zero credit; spoke with an individual who has had to pay 3 taxing districts; curious if this is happening to other people and they aren’t catching that. Leeseberg said in Public Hearings have heard people say decrease it, put it to 50 percent, some say don’t touch it. Angelou said people need to know what will happen if this issue does not pass on the ballot; must be very clear about it so people know we are being honest and not punishing them. Renner said it is drafted at 50 percent; asked if we could City of Gahanna Page 1 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes February 25, 2019 change it after Public Hearings; Ewald confirmed that they can. Larick said they have been discussing this for over a year; where revenue goes is what needs to be clear; 50 percent does not get us to where we need to be. Metzbower asked if he’s asking for a levy structure. Larick said no. Mayor Kneeland said if the City loses services and people, that it will be fine temporarily, as far as the budget goes; if residents don’t want to lose people or services then that’s a different discussion. Mayor Kneeland said zero credit is needed if we want to get to the goal of dollars needed. Renner asked if changing the credit is the only leverage we have. Everyone confirmed. Renner said the zero credit puts the burden on a particular portion of the population; do we want to put that on the backs of those workers; if this fails again then the people are saying they don’t think we need the money and then we should not drop the credit to 0. Mayor said it depends on what kind of community you want to live in. Larick said there is no upside to issue 12 failing; no upside to taking credit to less than what it is today. Leeseberg said we have some uninformed people who have not spent the many hours looking through all the items we have; refuses to believe that is the will of the people to live in a town full of pot holes. Angelou said it is difficult for the Development Department to sell the City in this current state. McGregor said the thought of a 4% interest versus 2.5% would make people think about this. Renner said he is willing to make the language say if the issue fails, then we drop the credit down to whatever percentage. McGregor asked if we could drop from 50% to 0% January 1 of 2020. Metzbower suggested to postpone to first meeting in April. Renner said this would give people a clear choice. Renner said if the will of Council is to go to zero percent, then supports that. ADJOURNMENT By Leeseberg at 8:10 p.m. City of Gahanna Page 2