Tag: Taxpayers

Free direct filing of federal taxes may be offered soon throughout the U.S.

BY: ASHLEY MURRAY – Ohio Capital Journal

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers across the United States could be guaranteed a free public option to file federal tax returns online as the Internal Revenue Service announced plans Thursday to make its Direct File program permanent.

The pilot program offered in 12 states from March to April drew roughly 140,000 accepted returns this filing season and saved participants $5.6 million in tax preparation costs and helped filers receive $90 million in refunds, according to the IRS.

The states involved in this year’s pilot included Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The agency is now inviting all 50 states to participate and will accommodate however many sign on, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on a call Thursday morning.

“We heard directly from hundreds of organizations across the country, more than 100 members of Congress, individual direct file users and those that are interested in using direct file. The clear message is that many taxpayers across the nation want the IRS to provide options for filing electronically at no cost,” Werfel said.

Yellen touted results of a user survey that showed 90% of participants rate their experience as excellent or above average.

“They appreciated that it allowed them to quickly fix mistakes and there were no fees or upsells. The success of the Direct File pilot means there’s now strong demand for direct file from taxpayers across the country,” Yellen said.

The average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes, according to the agency’s Taxpayer Burden Survey.

The program ‘delivered’

The left-leaning Economic Security Project, which advocates for tax credits for low-income and middle class households, praised the IRS decision to make permanent the program that “delivered on the promise of free and simplified tax filing for taxpayers.”

“It was evident that taxpayers saw the value of Direct File, both in making their lives easier and demonstrating what great government customer service looks like,” Adam Ruben, the organization’s vice president of campaigns and political strategy, said in a statement Thursday.

“We are already working with our partners in states across the nation to support the expansion of Direct File next year so more taxpayers can take advantage of free and simplified tax filing in the next tax season,” he said.

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top tax writer of the upper chamber, praised the IRS announcement in a statement Thursday as “tremendous news for taxpayers all over the country who are tired of getting ripped off by the big tax prep companies that routinely upcharge for unnecessary services, oversell the quality of their products and offer crummy customer service.”

Werfel said the IRS cannot provide an estimated cost of expanding the program because the agency has yet to learn how many states will jump on board.

The cost to run the program this year totaled $31.8 million, breaking down to $24.6 million in IRS costs, and $7.2 million in U.S. Digital Service costs to create the online platform, Werfel said.

Among the tens of billions of dollars Congress authorized for the IRS in its 2022 budget reconciliation law, otherwise known as the Inflation Reduction Act, $15 million was earmarked for exploring a way for the public to electronically file federal returns for free directly to the government, rather than through a third party.

This year’s pilot program was only available to taxpayers with basic tax situations, including W-2 income or simple credits and deductions, like the child tax credit or student loan interest.

“Our goal is to gradually expand the scope of Direct File to support most common tax situations, focusing in particular on tax situations that impact working families,” Werfel said.

When asked on the call whether the success of the program depends on who is in the Oval Office next year, Werfel responded, “I truly believe that the vision that the IRS has for the future tax administration is a nonpartisan one.”

Opposition from GOP

The free public program was met with fierce opposition from congressional Republicans and GOP state officials who criticized it as redundant, “unconstitutional” and a threat to state tax revenue.

Many cited the already established IRS Free File program, a regularly evolving partnership between the federal agency and private tax prep software companies that provide a free federal return filing option.

That 22-year-old program has been riddled with issues, including low participation and “confusion and complexity” that led millions of eligible taxpayers to actually pay the commercial partners who were supposed to offer the free service, according to a 2019 Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report.

A 2019 ProPublica investigation revealed deliberate tactics by Free File participant Intuit, maker of TurboTax, to cloud access to the free option.

Nearly two dozen state auditors, comptrollers and treasurers from 18 states urged the IRS to “shut down” the new Direct File pilot program because users could be confused about having to file a state return separately, therefore resulting in a loss in state revenue.

This argument is based on the fact that many commercial tax prep software companies and private tax preparers automatically prompt taxpayers to complete their state returns after filing the federal one.

The state officials who signed on to the March 25 letter to the IRS hailed from Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Two of the Direct File pilot program states — Arizona and New York — worked with the nonprofit Code for America to integrate a free state tax return filing option in concert with Direct File. The nonprofit reported that of the state returns filed through its tool, 98% were accepted.

Several state governments already offer free public electronic filing for state income tax returns that users must access separately through dedicated state websites, including Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, which offer the service regardless of income level. Some states, like California and Iowa, have income thresholds for free filing.

ASHLEY MURRAY

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

MORE FROM AUTHOR

Jun 3, 2024

The MYTH: “Grow or Die” may be choking Loveland

by David Miller

David Miller, Publisher and Editor

Loveland, Ohio – “What may look good on a zoning map for rezoning and what a developer is wanting to develop, may not always be in the best interest of the City of Loveland and the Loveland homeowners and taxpayers,” is what resident Dave Stanton told the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 4 during their meeting to make a decision on whether to approve 209 Drees homes on the 111-acre Graville site that had recently been annexed into the city.

You can watch his presentation in the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video we just published, read the prepared text of his talk, and review the financial report he presented to the Commission.

Stanton continued, “This commission needs to have a full understanding of the impacts on our existing infrastructure, impacts on the traffic, impacts on the biggest investment people make in Loveland with their homes, and the impacts on the City’s finances.”

Resident Sharon Scovanner assisted Stanton in preparing the financial report. In an interview after the Meeting, Scovanner said that there should be someone on City staff doing what she and Stanton did, as part of their job when new developments are proposed in the City.

The Commission ultimately decided to reject the re-zoning request, (Drees zoning denied) (Video interview with Lauren Enda and Sharon Scovanner after they defeat)

Let’s take a moment to understand the decisions made by this commission have both short term and long-term impacts on the Loveland community. Both positive and negative. What may look good on a zoning map for rezoning and what a developer is wanting to develop, may not always be in the best interest of the City of Loveland and the Loveland Homeowners/Taxpayers. This commission needs to have a full understanding of the impacts on our existing infrastructure, impacts on the traffic, impacts on the biggest investment people make in Loveland with their homes, and the impacts on the City’s finances. Before any SPD rezoning requests has a decision made.

What you have in front of you is a Financial Analysis Report focused on the impact of adding an additional 209 homes both in property tax and income tax. The information in the report is comprised from public data and supporting documentation from the City.

As you can see from the Property and Income Tax summary. The City of Loveland’s annual Property Tax income for 209 homes would be $ 255,660.00. The additional costs to the City of Loveland to fully support the Drees development with Police, Fire / EMS, Roads, and Maintenance would be $ 294,099.00. This creates a deficit in spending of (-$ 38,440) annually against the Property Tax revenue income. The Property Tax analysis supported detail is included in the Financial Analysis Report.

The City of Loveland’s annual Income Tax revenue for the 209 homes would be $ 105,300.00 based on 135 homes with a median income of $ 150,000 per year. 74 patio homes would be retirees who pay no income tax. As confirmed with Mark Medlar, Director of Finance only 52% of working Loveland residents pay Loveland Income Tax. The 2022 City of Loveland budget is $ 7,965,755.00. The 2021 City of Loveland population is 13,485 which equates to $ 590.71 per resident in budget expenditures. In using conservative numbers in the increase to the City of Loveland population, based on the Drees development, would be 620.5 additional residents. With this 4.6% increase in population to a total of 14,106 residents at $ 590.71 per resident would increase the City’s annual expense budget to $ 8,332,292.00. The increase in the City’s budget of $ 366,537 to cover the new residents in comparing to the City’s income tax from the Drees Development of $ 105,300.00. This creates a deficit in expense spending of (-$ 261,237.00). The Income Tax analysis supported detail is included in the Financial Analysis Report.

This financial analysis does not include additional expenses that Drees should be responsible for regarding this development. Drees would need to pay for the improvements to O’Bannonville road to handle the additional traffic and pay for the half mile MSD sewer upgrade on O’Bannonville road. As MSD has no Capital Funds to pay for this sewer upgrade. Drees has stated in their April 22nd letter to the City of Loveland regarding infrastructure “Responsibility will be on Drees to make the necessary improvements”. The city should bare no cost for the MSD sewer upgrade and road improvements to O’Bannonville road.

As you can see from the Financial Analysis showing the negative impact to the City of Loveland’s expenses with regards to Property and Income Tax Revenue. This is not a good Investment for the Taxpayers of Loveland and reflects deficit spending.

Going back to my opening statement of “Understand the decisions made by this commission have both short term and long-term impacts on the Loveland community”. A decision that was made by this commission on the rezoning to Multi-Family from Medium Residential for Blossom Hill has had a direct negative impact on Sentry Hill homes. Your decisions have made some of the Sentry Hill homes unsellable based on your rezoning recommendation with Multi-Family structures being built right next to Sentry Hill.

So again, think about your decisions being made with the full understanding of the impact to the City and the people of Loveland.

The Grailville Archive

Because posterity may wish to know.

May 12, 2022

Grailville: Know what you’ve got before it’s gone
A statue of a child at Grailville – photo provided by Kevin and Laurie Kiley

Introduction by Kevin Kiley

What’s going on in Loveland this week?

Kevin Kiley

The City of Loveland is currently reviewing an application for a large housing development on the east side of Loveland. This 111 acre parcel of land, a historic property currently owned by Grailville, was recently annexed into Loveland and is under contract to Drees Homes “with an option to buy” for $7.3 million. Drees has requested that Loveland re-zone the site to a special planning district (SPD) and approve an exception to build more than twice the number of homes permitted by current zoning. This same property was offered to Loveland Schools but failed to pass levies in the months preceding the pandemic.

Why does this matter?

Several concerns have been addressed to the Loveland Planning and Zoning Comission on how this new development will impact Loveland, including its effect on traffic, parking, schools, and other taxpayer expenses. This proposed new housing development borders 100 acres of nature preserve now owned by the Clermont County Parks District. A growing number of forward-thinking residents see this additional 111 acres as an incredible opportunity for Loveland to build something amazing for all who live in Loveland, not just a select few.

How can I get involved?

The next Loveland Planning and Zoning meeting is Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM at Loveland City Hall. Please attend to learn more and show support—help us pack the room. There will be a sign-in sheet in the room for anyone who wishes to speak.

To residents and elected decision makers of Loveland

by Laurie Kiley

Laurie Kiley

As I sit to put my feelings about the development of the Grailville property into writing, Joanie Mitchell’s lyrics are stuck in my head…

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

While I am a tree hugger in my soul I am also realistic that as humankind continues to evolve nature will always be at risk. We must be diligent to make personal choices—and choices as a community—that result in the greatest legacy for those who come after us. We cannot be shortsighted.

That being said, my biggest concern here today is actually about accountability. Loveland residents elect our Council to have privileged access to information on our behalf. We expect that they are making decisions holistically and with the future in mind well beyond their tenure.

As accountable Council members, we implore you to not make easy compromises today that lead to deeper issues for our community tomorrow. The full impact of every rezoning decision, every parking garage, and every field that is eliminated must be considered.

In our personal lives, it is irresponsible to spend beyond our means or to act now and think later.

Likewise, it would be irresponsible for our Council to make decisions that put Loveland’s future at risk.

The Grail is entitled to sell the property they cannot afford to hold. Drees is entitled to request an exception to maximize its profits and create a space to benefit 209 new households. Loveland Council, however, is not obligated to create new laws to make it possible.

I want to go back to my previous point about encouraging holistic decision-making. Here is a summary of inter-related concerns from my point of view:
- The Drees proposal outlines lot dimensions that equate to .16 acres that are 70% covered by house at worst, and .27 acre lots that are 60% covered by house at best. In contrast, Loveland’s current zoning stipulates 1 acre per lot for new development. If Drees accepts current zoning then it’s a done deal and within our regulations.
- The traffic studies—limited as they were—confirm that this development would increase traffic through downtown by over 2,000 trips daily. Loveland residents know that the true impact of congestion is felt most a peak times like the school commute, rush hour, and all weekend long when good weather brings visitors to our bike trail for hours of entertainment outside our borders. Council should avoid decisions that worsen our traffic problems before a viable solution has been identified.
- Tearing up East Loveland Avenue to install bigger sewage pipes would be necessary and the treatment plant may or may not already be maxed out. Loveland’s taxpayers require clarity and full disclosure about who would absorb the cost to resolve these concerns before any new SPD zoning exceptions are approved.
- More houses will result in more tax income and the majority would go to our schools but it would also add more kids and related expenses. This will overburden our situation. If the reputation of our schools degrades then everything else in the ecosystem will start failing also.
If Council is contractually obligated to respond to this SPD then the answer must be “no” until we can thoughtfully consider the big picture.

Yes, “something must be built here”. Let’s build something that benefits the entire community. Let’s build something that will make Loveland even more cherished by its citizens and inspires hope for its future.

Please don’t cite failed levies of the past. There’s no need for blame in any direction. Those levies only indicate that the expectations of the planners and the voters were not in line. Time has certainly moved on, so must we. We need to learn from those experiences and move forward together.

Loveland needs to stand up for itself. We need to be bold and brave and involved in order to maintain our character and identity as a community. By NOT approving this SPD our elected Council would give Loveland a huge opportunity to help The Grail and Loveland find an optimal solution to the benefit of all.

The Grailville Archive

Because posterity may wish to know.
May 2, 2022
IRS extends Federal filing for individuals until May 17

Does not apply to State and Local taxes

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

“This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to.”

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest, and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.

Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free Filelink on IRS.gov. Filing Form 4868 gives taxpayers until October 15 to file their 2020 tax return but does not grant an extension of time to pay taxes due. Taxpayers should pay their federal income tax due by May 17, 2021, to avoid interest and penalties.

The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds associated with e-filed returns are issued within 21 days.

Estimated tax payments

This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15. Taxes must be paid as taxpayers earn or receive income during the year, either through withholding or estimated tax payments. In general, estimated tax payments are made quarterly to the IRS by people whose income isn’t subject to income tax withholding, including self-employment income, interest, dividends, alimony or rental income. Most taxpayers automatically have their taxes withheld from their paychecks and submitted to the IRS by their employer.

State tax returns

The federal tax filing deadline postponement to May 17, 2021, only applies to individual federal income returns and tax (including tax on self-employment income) payments otherwise due April 15, 2021, not state tax payments or deposits or payments of any other type of federal tax. Taxpayers also will need to file income tax returns in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. State filing and payment deadlines vary and are not always the same as the federal filing deadline. The IRS urges taxpayers to check with their state tax agencies for those details.

Mar 17, 2021
Ohio National Guard security detail after Jan. 6 cost state $1 million

The Ohio National Guard stands post in downtown Columbus last year. Photo by Marty Schladen.

By Tyler Buchanan and Ohio Capital Journal

It cost the state of Ohio more than $1 million to send hundreds of troops to the Ohio Statehouse last month to protect against acts of political violence.

All told, taxpayers spent millions of dollars to pay for enhanced security in Columbus and Washington, D.C. following the Jan. 6 events at the U.S. Capitol.

After the deadly insurrection at the nation’s capital, DeWine mobilized around 1,000 troops to D.C. to help with security for President Joe Biden’s inauguration. DeWine also authorized 480 troops to be stationed at the Ohio Statehouse during planned protests on inauguration week.

Military vehicles were placed around the Ohio Statehouse in mid-January. Photo by Jake Zuckerman.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, normally in charge of protecting the Statehouse grounds, also ramped up security last month.

The cost of stationing troops in Columbus, as approved by the Ohio Controlling Board on Monday, was $1,035,000. Most of this amount ($695,000) went to payroll, with the remainder spent on food, travel costs and other supplies.

The price of extra highway patrol security at the Statehouse was more than $2.4 million, The Associated Press recently reported.

The deployment of Ohio troops in D.C. cost more than $2.1 million, but this is paid for by the federal government, according to Stephanie Beougher, the public information officer for the Ohio National Guard.

Public officials had worried about the potential for violence as online extremists turned their attention from the U.S. Capitol to the 50 state capitals. The Ohio Statehouse and other government buildings in downtown Columbus were closed for four days.

In spite of — or perhaps because of — the immense show of force, there were no reported incidents of violence in Columbus. Law enforcement officers outnumbered a small gathering of armed protesters, who stayed only for a few hours before escaping the frigid weather.

Protesters caused more than $150,000 in damage at the Statehouse last May and more than $1 million in damage to nearby businesses and offices. In response, the governor deployed Ohio National Guard troops to Columbus and Cleveland at an eventual cost of $3.2 million.

A Republican state senator recently proposed a bill to install security cameras at the Statehouse and increase the penalties for arson and vandalism.

Feb 23, 2021
[Meeting Videos] Christman Farm sale moves forward after public hearing
Loveland, Ohio – City Council voted to move ahead with the sale of the city-owned Christman Farm on Butterworth Road after a public hearing on October 13. Taxpayers bought the former Warren County horse farm from Terry and Mary Christman in 2007 for $800,000. The property is within the boundary of the Little Miami School District. Loveland Schools will receive no property tax income from the development.

The next Community Improvement Corporation Meeting is at 5:30 PM Tuesday, October 20. The sale of the Christman Farm property is on their agenda.

The property consists of 9.8389 acres. The developer of the property will be the Campbell Berling Development Company. The proposed use of the property is for a single-family residential development of “no more” than 35 single-family homes. The company address is 333 Madison Pike, Suite C in Ft. Write Kentucky. The owner of the property will be CB Butterworth, LLC.

CB Butterworth, LLC was incorporated on September 16. Here is the business filing: Business_Details.

City Manager Dave Kennedy started the public hearing by spelling out what he believes are the advantages of the sale. Kennedy said that most of the “Estate Homes” will sell in the $1.2 M range with side entry garages. The empty-nester homes to be on the Christman Farm would not be built until after the 2022 HOMEARAMA was over. Kennedy said that Council wanted him to come up with a home product they could be proud of.

Kennedy proposed the transfer of the 9.8 acres to the Loveland Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) for eventual purchase by CB Butterworth, LLC, and prepared the legislation that was presented to City Council as an emergency measure. Emergency legislation cannot be overturned at the ballot box as they become effective immediately. Kennedy said the urgency was so he could begin constructing the sewers that will serve the development as soon as possible.

Bethany Wiegand spoke about the ways the proposal will affect her home and urged the Council to address traffic problems. She said it currently take her 20-25 minutes to leave her home in Butterworth Glen and get through the traffic in Historic Downtown. Wiegand grew up in Loveland, moved back – and asked that Council take care of the people that already live here and have already invested in the City. “Let’s solve the current issues for the current residents like myself,” said Wiegand. She also expressed interest in having a park on the property so she doesn’t have to go through Historic Downtown to use other recreation spaces.

Kennedy said in a memo to Council on October 13, “Per City regulations, all funds from the sale of the property from the CIC to CB Butterworth, LLC, will be transferred back to the City.” The sale will be contingent upon Planning and Zoning Commission approval of a re-zone to a Special Planning District.

Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy (Loveland Magazine file photo)

There will be a request for a zone change and the “Estate” homes built on the Crane property will be a 2022 HOMEARAMA site.

CIC has been presented with a draft “Real Estate Purchase Agreement”.* $5,000 in earnest money will be due upon execution of the agreement. The sale will be continent upon Planning and Zoning Commission approval of a re-zone to a Special Planning District. The purchase price will be $350,000.

HOMEARAMA is an annual event that is billed as the “latest and greatest” in home and landscape design.

HOMEARAMA® offers you the opportunity to not only see the latest trends in home design and decorating, but also learn why buying a new home continues to represent an excellent value. Today’s new homes offer the latest trends in technology and more energy-saving features than ever before.

(Right-Click to open these images in a new tab or window to see a larger view.)

Resident Todd Osborn spoke in favor of the sale during the public hearing.

Taxpayers originally bought a total of 10.737 acres. The justification given at the time was that it would be the last chance for Loveland to have recreation space in fast-developing southern Warren County. In 2010, 0.8981 acres of the property, which included a home, was portioned off and sold to Judith Lund for $102,000.

A Recreation Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) was created by Ordinance 2008-38 to pay off the financing. The TIF consists of approximately 27 acres and includes the taxpayer-owned property known generally as the Christman Farm as well as the Crane property which is privately owned.

The Christmas Farm and the Crane properties are within the boundaries of the Little Miami School District. City Manager Dave Kennedy told Loveland Magazine on Friday that the District is “made whole” by the Recreation TIF. He said, “ Little Miami School District receives 100% of revenue as if there had been no TIF.” Read the TIF ordinance that Council passed in 2008. REC TIF

The TIF provides financing for the property purchase that the City recoups through increased property tax revenues generated from future development within its boundaries. Kennedy said during the public hearing that the debt service that has been paid out of the general fund over the years is $632,000 and that when the TIF funds start coming into the Recreation TIF fund, it will be transferred back out and returned to the general fund. He said that to finish the debt service will require an additional $347,000.

Tom Carroll, the City Manager at the time of the purchase, said, “The City will continue to slowly retire the debt on this property and the remaining ten acres of the Christman Farm will be land-banked until the Crane property is developed and a municipal park can be constructed. Continued patience is therefore necessary before Loveland can build its first park in Warren County.”

Taxpayers have been paying around $50,000 annually in debt service for the Christman Farm purchase.

In their offer letter, Campbell Berling says the development will have a buildout value of $25,250,00 with an assessed valuation of $6,860,000.

Campbell Berling will be paying $350,000.00 for the land. They plan to build fifteen $550,000 and up “empty nester” homes on the parcel they would like to buy from Loveland taxpayers. The lots would be between 11,000 and 18,000 sq. ft.

The Crane property would have 20 homes and two styles of “Estate Homes” valued at $850,000 and up on lots that would average 32,000 sq. ft.

Campbell Berling is proposing that future homeowners be allowed to pay the cost of sewer line extensions over 20-years.

Access to the development would be from Butterworth Road across from the Brandywine subdivision. The developer already has a “Crane family property”, parcel number 16074000240 under a purchase contract.

There have been 57 previous HOMEARAMA showcases

The 28th was in 1989 at The Glen of Claiborne(Loveland)

The 29th was in 1990 at Chatham Woods (Symmes Township)
After the public spoke about the sale council members asked questions to the City Manager and shared their views before voting unanimously to transfer the land to the CIC leading the way for the sale. Kennedy outlined a possible timeline of CIC action, constructing the sewers, and Planning and Zoning Commission approval. Kennedy suggested that the $350,00 taxpayers receive from the sale could be used to improve traffic in Historic Downtown, instead of repaying the principal on the current loan.

Section 4 of the emergency legislation states:

That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare and shall be effective immediately upon its passage. The reason for said declaration of emergency is to allow for the property to be transferred and sold as soon as possible so that infrastructure can be installed to allow for its development for the benefit of the City.

The CIC is a quasi-government arm of the City. Once they take possession of the land their actions are not subject to Council approval and their actions cannot be overruled by a vote at the ballot box.

CIC Members

Jay Stewart, Chair

Kathy Bailey, Mayor

Neal Oury, City Council Member

Kent Blair, City Council Member

Dr. Jeffrey Kemmet, Chamber Representative

David Parker

Michele Pettit, Board of Education Representative

A 2007 proposed development, Summit Pointe, was for 70 attached units, and later reduced to 58 units, however, it never came to fruition.

Kennedy in a memo to City Council said, “Proposals also included multiple high-density townhome type projects which would be rental occupied. These proposals were never accepted, due to the fact that City Council and staff did not see high density, much less rental type projects, as a good fit for the surrounding neighborhoods of Brandywine on the Little Miami and Butterworth Glen.”

Kennedy says in the memo that he and staff met with numerous Cincinnati area home builders in the hopes of creating a low-density project, and that one message from the developers that continued to surface was that the cost of bringing utilities to the properties was expensive. Therefore, most developers saw a higher density project as a way to recoup those expenses.

“With that consistent message from developers, and a low-density project clearly being the choice of City Council and staff, a possible option was created,” said Kennedy. The option is to include the City extending the sanitary sewer collection main up State Route 48 to the properties and placing an assessment on the parcels within the residential development so that the City would be reimbursed for the project costs.

An assessment on each parcel, for 20 years would allow for Loveland taxpayers to recoup their subsidy of the sanitary sewer main extension and to the Campbell Berling Development Company. Kennedy has not said what the sewer extension will cost nor said how the initial sewer construction will be financed. It remains unclear if Loveland taxpayers can recoup the cost of borrowing money for sewer construction.

Read the meeting packet

After the taxpayers bought the land to be used as recreation and formal proposals for how it would be developed as ballfields and passive recreation came forward, opposition from many in the Brandywine subdivision doomed its development. Traffic concerns and “strangers” coming to a public park in their neighborhood distressed many homeowners. Many said they did not want to come across strangers as they were on walking trails and said they would not let their children play where strangers would be using the public park as well. Currently, anyone wishing to use city or school recreational fields, tennis and basketball courts, etc., in the immediate neighborhood must drive through Historic Downtown to facilities in Clermont or Hamilton County.

Kennedy told Council, “The proposed legislation, (was) being requested as an emergency to allow infrastructure work and planning to begin immediately.” Normally passed ordinances must be read at two separate council meetings and don’t become law until 30-days after the vote at the second meeting.

The developer wants to rezone all of the property as a Special Planning District which would require Planing and Zoning Commission and City Council approval.

Kennedy presented this “Fiscal Impact” study in the package of information he presented to City Council:

The agreed purchase price for the property is $350,000. As the project begins to develop it will begin to produce TIF revenues until the TIF expires in 2037. TIF revenue is calculated based upon an increasing scale as the development is completed and placed on the tax rolls. After the development is completed, TIF calculations include a 0.5% to 1% appreciation over the life of the TIF. Based on these calculations, the TIF at buildout, will produce revenue for the City in the range of $135,000 to $143,000 annually. If the project goes as scheduled, it will produce a total revenue over $2,000,000 to the City over the life of the TIF. A summary of projected TIF revenues to the City is shown below.

Ordinance 2020-_____

Ordinance transferring the real property on Butterworth Road located in the City of Loveland, Warren County, Ohio to the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland and declaring an emergency

WHEREAS, the City of Loveland (the “City”) desires to see certain undeveloped real property owned by the City located on Butterworth Road known as Parcel No. 16072000550 used for a combination of residential and recreational purposes; and

WHEREAS, the City has determined that the Property is no longer needed for municipal purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Property should be transferred to the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland without competitive bidding pursuant to Codified Ordinance Section 107.01(f) to dispose of as that organization shall best determine; and

WHEREAS, City Council conducted a public hearing on October 13, 2020 as to the disposition of the Property.

Now, Therefore, Be It Ordained by the Council of the City of Loveland, Hamilton, Clermont and Warren Counties, Ohio.

Section 1. Council of the City of Loveland (“City Council”) hereby determines that the undeveloped real property located on Butterworth Road known as Parcel 1607200055 and further described in Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Property”) is no longer needed for municipal purposes.

Section 2. City Council hereby authorizes the Property be transferred to the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland to be used to promote the welfare of the people of the City, stabilize the economy, provide employment, assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research activities to the benefit of the people of the City, provide additional opportunities for their gainful employment or will promote the reclamation, rehabilitation, and reutilization of vacant, abandoned, tax- foreclosed, or other real property in the City. The City Manager is authorized to execute any and all documents on behalf of the City consistent with this transfer.

Section 3. Council hereby finds and determines that all formal actions relative to the passage of this legislation were taken in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and of its committees, if any, which resulted in formal action, were taken in meetings open to the public, in full compliance with applicable legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Section 4. That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare and shall be effective immediately upon its passage. The reason for said declaration of emergency is to allow for the property to be transferred and sold as soon as possible so that infrastructure can be installed to allow for its development for the benefit of the City.

* DRAFT

REAL ESTATE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Real Estate Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into this _____ day of October, 2020, by and between the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland, an Ohio not-for-profit corporation, whose address is 120 West Loveland Avenue, Loveland, Ohio 45140 (“Seller”), and CB BUTTERWORTH, LLC, an Ohio limited liability corporation, whose address is 3333 Madison Pike, Suite C, Ft. Wright, Kentucky 41017 (“Buyer”).

WITNESSETH:

1. Purchase and Sale: Subject to the terms, conditions and provisions hereinafter set forth, and good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Seller agrees to sell and Buyer agrees to purchase a certain parcel of land containing approximately 9.8389 acres, known as Parcel No. 1607200055 and located in the City of Loveland, Warren County, Ohio, more particularly described in the attached Exhibit A, together with all improvements thereon and all appurtenant rights, privileges and easements (“Property”).

2. Purchase Price and Terms: The purchase price for the Property (“Purchase Price”) shall be Three Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($350,000.00). The Purchase Price shall be paid as follows:

a. Buyer shall pay the amount of Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($5,000.00) upon the execution of this Agreement as earnest money (“Earnest Money”) to apply toward the Purchase Price, and the Earnest Money shall be held by the Seller, without interest, pending the closing of the transaction contemplated herein. Except as otherwise provided herein, if the transaction contemplated herein does not close for any reason, other than the title to the Property not being marketable or a default by Seller, the Earnest Money shall be retained by Seller as liquidated damages and Buyer shall not be entitled to a refund of the Earnest Money; and

b. The balance of the Purchase Price shall be paid in cash or certified or cashier’s check, and shall be payable upon delivery of the deed at the closing time set forth herein, or at such sooner time as is mutually agreeable by the parties.

3. Property to be Conveyed: The Property shall include the land, together with any improvements thereon, all appurtenant rights, privileges, and easements.

4. Personal Property. No personal property shall be included in the sale of the Property.

5. Closing:

a. The closing shall occur at the location selected by Seller, on or before thirty (30) days after Buyer obtains zoning as provided for in paragraph 8, or May 7, 2021, whichever occurs sooner, or at such date, time and place as mutually determined in writing by the parties. At closing, title to the Property herein described shall be conveyed by Seller to Buyer, by a General Warranty Deed, in fee simple, and shall be transferable, recordable, marketable and shall be free, clear and unencumbered, and shall be subject to easements, restrictions and reservations of record, and real estate taxes and assessments of record.

b. Buyer shall be responsible for payment of any and all fees or costs of closing with respect to the Property, including, but not limited to, transfer taxes (if any), escrow fees, settlement fees, and recording fees.

6. Real Estate Taxes and Assessments: All real estate taxes and assessments, if any, shall be prorated effective as of the date of closing.

7. Occupancy and Possession: Subject to further terms, conditions, and provisions of this Agreement, Seller shall grant Buyer possession and occupancy of the Property herein described on the date of closing.

8. Contingencies: The purchase of the Property is contingent on Buyer obtaining zoning approval to the satisfaction of the Buyer from the City of Loveland for the construction of a single family residential development. Any such zoning shall include an obligation for payment of the sewer assessment provided for in paragraph 9 of this Agreement.

Buyer shall have the right to enter the Property and conduct any environmental testing deemed necessary by Buyer for Buyer’s proposed use of the Property. In the event the Property is not able to be used for Buyer’s proposed use of the Property as a result of any environmental conditions discovered prior to Closing, Buyer shall have the right to terminate the Agreement.

9. Sanitary Sewer Assessment by the City of Loveland: It is understood and agreed to by the Buyer that there shall be a twenty (20) year assessment placed on the Property as a lien, or on each of the parcels making up the Property if it is subsequently subdivided by Buyer, for all costs and fees associated with the construction of a sanitary sewer line by the City of Loveland to provide sanitary sewer service to the Property. The payment of the sewer assessment shall be due and payable to the City of Loveland by each property owner located within the Property.

10. Warranties and Representations: Seller makes no certifications of any representations or warranties with respect to the Property; as such, the Property is being sold “AS-IS, WHERE-IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS”, and without any representation and/or warranty from Seller whatsoever. Notwithstanding the above, Seller represents it is not aware of any adverse environmental conditions on the Property.

11. Brokers: Buyer and Seller each hereby represent to the other that it has not involved or worked with any brokers, agents or finders in the negotiation of this Agreement or the consummation of this transaction and that there are no brokers, agents or finders that have any right to claim a commission or fee due to the consummation of this transaction.

12. Notice: All notices, communications, requests, approvals, consents, and demands are herein required to be given or made in writing and shall be deemed to be served when delivered personally or when deposited in the U.S. mail, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the address of the appropriate party as set forth above.

13. Miscellaneous:

a. Time of Essence: Time is of the essence hereof. 2

b. Governing Law: This Agreement is made and shall be construed under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

c. Entire Agreement; Modification: This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and agreements between Seller and Buyer with respect to the Property and contains the sole and entire understanding between Seller and Buyer with respect to the Property. All promises, inducements, offers, solicitations, agreements, commitments, representations, and warranties heretofore made between such parties are merged into this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be modified or amended in any respect except by written instrument executed by or on behalf of each of the parties to this Agreement.

d. Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in one or several counterparts, each of which constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

e. Rights Cumulative: Except as expressly limited by the terms of this Agreement, all rights, powers, and privileges conferred hereunder shall be cumulative and not restrictive of those given by law.

f. Benefit: This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective representatives, successors and assigns, as the case may apply.

g. Survival of Provisions: All representations, covenants, warranties and agreements set forth in this Agreement, if any, shall survive the execution or delivery of any and all deeds and other documents at any time executed or delivered under, pursuant to, or by reason of this Agreement, and shall survive the payment of all monies made under, pursuant to, or by reason of this Agreement.

h. Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or unenforceable, that provision is severed from this Agreement and the remaining provisions remain in force.

i. No Waiver: Either party’s failure to object to any default on the part of the other party shall not be construed as a waiver of such default.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the last date written below (“Effective Date”).

SELLER:
The Community Improvement Corporation

of Loveland, an Ohio not-for-profit corporation

By:________________________________ Name: Jay Stewart
Title: President

Date:__________ 100029.001.14180797.1

BUYER:
CB Butterworth, LLC, an Ohio limited liability

corporation

By:________________________________ Name: _____________________________ Title: ______________________________ Date:_____________
Oct 19, 2020
Land formerly set aside for a Loveland park to “pave” way for HOMEARAMA

Loveland, Ohio – City Council has scheduled a public hearing for October 13, at 7 PM to hear from the community on a proposed sale of city-owned property on Butterworth Road, in Warren County. Council voted in a special session on September 29 and voted unanimously to set the public hearing date after a motion by Tim Butler. The meeting lasted 141 seconds and there was no discussion about the sale.

The property consists of 9.8389 acres. The purchaser of the property would be the Campbell Berling Development Company. The proposed use of the property is to accommodate a single-family residential development of no more than 35 single-family homes. The company address is 333 Madison Pike, Suite C in Ft. Write Kentucky.

(Right-Click to open these images in a new tab or window to see a larger view.)

Taxpayers originally bought a total of 10.737 acres. The justification given at the time for the $900,000 expenditure was that it would be the last chance for Loveland to have recreation space in fast-developing southern Warren County. In 2010, 0.8981 acres of the property, which included a home, was portioned off and sold to Judith Lund for $102,000.

A Recreation Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) was created by Ordinance 2008-38 to pay off financing of the $900.000. The TIF consists of approximately 27 acres and includes the property known generally as the Christman Farm as well as the Crane property.

The TIF provides financing for the property purchase that the City recoups through increased property tax revenues generated from future development within its boundaries.

Tom Carroll, the City Manager at the time said, “The City will continue to slowly retire the debt on this property and the remaining ten acres of the Christman Farm will be land-banked until the Crane property is developed and a municipal park can be constructed. Continued patience is therefore necessary before Loveland can build its first park in Warren County.”

Taxpayers have been paying close to $48,000 annually in debt service for the Christman Farm purchase.

In their offer letter, Campbell Berling says the development will have a buildout value of $25,250,00 with an assessed valuation of $6,860,000.

Campbell Berling will be paying $350,000.00 for the land.

Their plan is to build fifteen $550,000 and up “empty nester” homes on the parcel they would like to buy from Loveland taxpayers. The lots would be between 11,000 and 18,000 sq ft.

The Crane property would have 20 homes and two styles of “Estate Homes” valued at $850,000 and up on lots that would average 32,000 sq ft.

Campbell Berling is proposing that future homeowners be allowed to pay the cost of sewer line extensions over 20-years.

Access to the development would be from Butterworth Road across from the Brandywine subdivision. The developer already has a “Crane family property”, parcel number 16074000240 under a purchase contract.

There have been 57 previous HOMEARAMA showcases

The 28th was in 1989 at The Glen of Claiborne (Loveland)

The 29th was in 1990 at Chatham Woods (Symmes Township)

There will be a request for a zone change to a Special Planning District and the “Estate” homes built on the Crane property will be a future HOMEARAMA site.

HOMEARAMA is an annual event that is billed as the “latest and greatest” in home and landscape design.

HOMEARAMA® offers you the opportunity to not only see the latest trends in home design and decorating, but also learn why buying a new home continues to represent an excellent value. Today’s new homes offer the latest trends in technology and more energy-saving features than ever before.

City Manager Dave Kennedy proposes a transfer of the 9.8 acres to the Loveland Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) for purchase by CB Butterworth, LLC and has prepared legislation and it will be presented to City Council as an emergency measure. Emergency legislation cannot be overturned at the ballot box as they become effective immediately.

Section 4 of the emergency legislation states:

That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare and shall be effective immediately upon its passage. The reason for said declaration of emergency is to allow for the property to be transferred and sold as soon as possible so that infrastructure can be installed to allow for its development for the benefit of the City.

The CIC is a quasi-government arm of the City. Once they take possession of the land their actions are not subject to Council approval and their actions cannot be overruled by a vote at the ballot box.

A 2007 proposed development, Summit Pointe, was for 70 attached units, and later reduced to 58 units, however it never came to fruition.

Kennedy in a memo to City Council today said, “Proposals also included multiple high-density townhome type projects which would be rental occupied. These proposals were never accepted, due to the fact that City Council and staff did not see high density, much less rental type projects, as a good fit for the surrounding neighborhoods of Brandywine on the Little Miami and Butterworth Glen.”

Kennedy says in the memo that he and staff met with numerous Cincinnati area home builders in the hopes of creating a low density project, and that one message from the developers that continued to surface was that the cost of bringing utilities to the properties was expensive. Therefore, most developers saw a higher density project as a way to recoup those expenses.

“With that consistent message from developers, and a low-density project clearly being the choice of City Council and staff, a possible option was created,” said Kennedy. The option is to include the City extending the sanitary sewer collection main up State Route 48 to the properties and placing an assessment on the parcels within the residential development so that the City would be reimbursed for the project costs.

An assessment on each parcel, for a period of 20 years would allow for Loveland taxpayers to recoup their subsidy of the sanitary sewer main extension and to the Campbell Berling Development Company. Kennedy has not said what what the sewer extension will cost nor said how the initial sewer construction will be financed. It remains unclear if Loveland taxpayers can recoup the cost of borrowing money for the sewer construction.

After the taxpayers bought the land to be used as recreation and formal proposals for how it would be developed as ballfields and passive recreation came forward, opposition from many in the Brandywine subdivision doomed its development. Traffic concerns and “strangers” coming to a public park in their neighborhood distressed many homeowners. Many said they did not want to come across strangers as they were on walking trails and said they would not let their children play where strangers would be using the public park as well. Currently anyone wishing to use city or school recreational fields, tennis and basketball courts, etc., in the immediate neighborhood must drive through Historic Downtown to facilities in Clermont or Hamilton County.

Kennedy told Council, “The proposed legislation, (was) being requested as an emergency to allow infrastructure work and planning to begin immediately.” Normally passed ordinances must be read at two separate council meetings and don’t become law until 30-days after the vote at the second meeting.

The developer wants to rezone all of the property as a Special Planing District which would require Planing and Zoning Commission and City Council approval.

Kennedy presented this “Fiscal Impact” study in the package of information he presented to City Council:

The agreed purchase price for the property is $350,000. As the project begins to develop it will begin to produce TIF revenues until such time as the TIF expires in 2037. TIF revenue is calculated based upon an increasing scale as the development is completed and placed on the tax rolls. After the development is completed, TIF calculations includes a 0.5% to 1% appreciation over the life of the TIF. Based on these calculations, the TIF at buildout, will produce revenue for the City in the range of $135,000 to $143,000 annually. If the project goes as scheduled, it will produce a total revenue over $2,000,000 to the City over the life of the TIF. A summary of projected TIF revenues to the City is shown below.

The Public Hearing is this Tuesday, October 13, at 7 PM at City Hall.

Ordinance 2020-_____

Ordinance transferring the real property on Butterworth Road located in the City of Loveland, Warren County, Ohio to the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland and declaring an emergency

WHEREAS, the City of Loveland (the “City”) desires to see certain undevelopedreal property owned by the City located on Butterworth Road known as Parcel No. 16072000550 used for a combination of residential and recreational purposes; and

WHEREAS, the City has determined that the Property is no longer needed for municipal purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Property should be transferred to the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland without competitive bidding pursuant to Codified Ordinance Section 107.01(f) to dispose of as that organization shall best determine; and

WHEREAS, City Council conducted a public hearing on October 13, 2020 as to the disposition of the Property.

Now, Therefore, Be It Ordained by the Council of the City of Loveland, Hamilton, Clermont and Warren Counties, Ohio.

Section 1. Council of the City of Loveland (“City Council”) hereby determinesthat the undeveloped real property located on Butterworth Road known as Parcel1607200055 and further described in Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Property”) is no longerneeded for municipal purposes.

Section 2. City Council hereby authorizes the Property be transferred to the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland to be used to promote the welfare of the people of the City, stabilize the economy, provide employment, assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research activities to the benefit of the people of the City, provide additional opportunities for their gainful employment or will promote the reclamation, rehabilitation, and reutilization of vacant, abandoned, tax- foreclosed, or other real property in the City. The City Manager is authorized to execute any and all documents on behalf of the City consistent with this transfer.

Section 3. Council hereby finds and determines that all formal actions relative to the passage of this legislation were taken in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and of its committees, if any, which resulted in formal action, were taken in meetings open to the public, in full compliance with applicable legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Section 4. That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare and shall be effective immediately upon its passage. The reason for said declaration of emergency is to allow for the property to be transferred and sold as soon as possible so that infrastructure can be installed to allow for its development for the benefit of the City.

Oct 9, 2020
Public can now access financial information about the Loveland City School District on-line

Loveland, Ohio – The public can now access financial information about the Loveland City School District on Ohio Checkbook.

The website was launched by the state in 2014 to allow taxpayers direct access to see how their tax money is spent.

Financial data about Loveland City Schools on OhioCheckbook.com will initially cover the current fiscal year (2020) and last fiscal year (2019).

Jan 8, 2020
Pat Ahr: A new candidate vies for Loveland City Council seat

by Bill and Cyndi Gillings,

Changes in the City of Loveland are happening rapid-fire. After recovering from a devastating fire in its downtown in 2017, Loveland has reinvigorated its charming historic core by expanding

Bill and Cyndi Gillings live in the Paxton Woods neighborhood of Miami Township.

recreation, shopping, and restaurant/bar options. By anyone’s estimation, the city’s growth is on a steep trajectory with its ambitious city master plan, creation of a historic preservation district, and the addition of new venues and events. Loveland is dreaming big.

“Pat Ahr enters the Loveland City Council race with a “Breath of Fresh Air” campaign that promises better city-citizen communication, equal focus outside the historic core, and fiscal responsibility.”

Into this exciting phase steps Pat Ahr. A new face on the Loveland political scene, Ahr is a 15-year Loveland resident and retired registered nurse. She is running for a city council seat in the November 5 election, prompted to do so by a few key issues.

More Conversation, More Kindness

“I believe that as a city we are not communicating as well as we should,” Ahr says, laying out one of the pillars of her campaign. “I want to include all of Loveland in city discussions.” Ahr believes the current makeup of the city council has lent itself to block voting, and that the city would be better served by having a wider variety of viewpoints represented by elected officials.

“We need different voices on the council and not just people who agree on every point and push things through,” she emphasizes. “While I think that the council has done a lot to move Loveland forward, they are viewed–as a group–by many in the city as unkind. I want to bring kindness back to the council. We need to treat each other with respect. And I want the community to be involved in this transition to civility.”

If elected, Ahr will lean on her expertise as a communicator to make sure the public has a seat at the discussion table. This is second nature to her. “As a nurse, you must communicate at multiple levels–dealing with doctors, nurses, patients, patients’ families, and insurance,” she lists. “The communication is endless.”

Ahr will institute office hours for the public so all citizens can share their opinions and ideas outside the only current outlet for doing so: the monthly city council meeting. “Twice a month, I will hold meetings so the community can talk to me about what is going on in Loveland,” she says. “We’ll meet at a local restaurant or coffee shop, and I will encourage people of all ages to come. We must connect on a different level than just through the information put on the city website or by attendance at council meetings where you have to sign in to talk and where you can’t rebut as you would in a normal conversation. I want to give–and receive–more information than what you can get from that format.”

But it’s not just how city council communicates, it’s also what they are communicating about that concerns Ahr. “To date, all the focus of the city has been on the downtown district, but we are outgrowing what we can do there. We need to be bringing in new businesses with taxable revenue comparable to other towns in Cincinnati. And we need to address the unique needs of all areas of Loveland.”

Ahr points to the Loveland-Madeira Road Corridor as an obvious focal point. “I attended community meetings for the city’s master plan, and I listened to parents talk about how they have to drive to Anderson and Milford to get to places that kids really enjoy–like Jump Zone and entertainment venues like that,” she says. “Could we have a year-round pool? Or a Loveland workout center, like the Y that was planned years ago, to keep people in Loveland? We invite all these people from outside to enjoy our downtown, but we need to look at what people who live here would enjoy.”

Soothing Municipal Headaches

After improving communication with the public, Ahr’s second mission will be to address the city’s parking issue. “The city’s third-party master plan designers said we have enough parking in the city and that we just need to educate the public about where it is,” she says. “But now the city has put out an RFP (request for proposal) for a parking garage with $7 to $8 million price tag. And they are guessing at costs. They should have done a preliminary RFP and then put the idea of the garage out to the public as an idea with an accurate price tag on it,” she says.

“Pat Ahr has lived in Loveland for over 15 Years

Retired Registered Nurse for 43 years

Expertise in Brand Management and Marketing

Regional Marketing Director across the Midwest

Managed Direct Sales for Multiple Businesses and Organizations

Understands Government Regulations having Assisted with Buyouts and Takeovers”

Considering the amount of money a garage could cost taxpayers, it is worth looking at alternatives first, Ahr says. “Let’s follow what the master planners suggested and educate the public on where to park. Maybe create a map we put in restaurants and in holders on the bike trail that would help people navigate the town and figure out where to park,” she suggests. “Try things first and build on the ideas before spending taxpayer money.”

The fiscal responsibility that colors Ahr’s opinion on the parking garage flows through her opinions on everything with which the city gets involved. This attention to management, processes, and regulation comes from her experience participating in acquisitions and takeovers of healthcare entities during her 43-year nursing career.

Take the school levy as an example. While not a city financial issue on the face of it, the school levy concerns Ahr. “Right now, the number-one thing everybody is talking about is the school levy and what is going in where and why we are being asked for so much money. People support schools for different reasons, both emotional and intellectual. I believe in education, but at what cost? I think every family needs to make the decision to support or reject the levy for themselves.”

That said, she has an eagle eye on what this school decision could mean for the taxpayers of Loveland. “The city must look at infrastructure to support the school,” she reminds. “The City is saying the schools are separate from us, but we need to be working together with them or we will blindside the taxpayers down the road on infrastructure costs, such as road improvements, after and on top of the tax for the schools.”

On a Personal Note … And An Invitation

Politics is in Ahr’s DNA. She is the great-great-granddaughter of our nation’s 12th president, Zachary Taylor (1784-1850). A Kentucky native, Taylor was a full-fledged war hero through his service in the Mexican War. He was in office for only 16 months before he died. “He was a president against slavery,” Ahr says proudly.

As important as her illustrious roots are her present-day kin. She and her husband, Barry, have four children and nine grandsons. That’s right–all boys. “I love them so much,” she says. “And we have one more on the way.” No word on the gender of the new addition, which is okay with Ahr. “I look forward to two surprises in November,” she says.

Oct 14, 2019
Council candidate asks, “Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers?”

by Cory O’Donnell

Who’s watching out for Loveland’s resident taxpayers? Our city leaders have ventured down a road with a questionable road map. The city is in the midst of possibly the most expensive civic project ever with $7+ million of resident taxpayer money on the line to construct a parking garage.

Cory O’Donnell lives in the White Pillars Subdivision and is a Loveland City Council Candidate

Who would argue the need for a parking facility given the explosion of visitors to the downtown area? Certainly, there needs to be adequate parking to support the masses that want to enjoy the available offerings. Visitors welcome the day when they don’t have to circle the downtown area for what seems to be an eternity to secure a valuable parking spot. Alternatively, some come to spend their time and money only to turn around and go home…nowhere to park.

Imagine the business owners that are giddy with the prospect of the resident taxpayers footing the bill to get more cash through their doors. Who could blame them for the smiles on their faces? Not me; what a gift!

But here’s where the roadmap leads to resident taxpayer disaster. There is no published plan to recover the $7+ million and make the taxpayers whole. Further, my calculator can’t get to a full lot, 365 days a year for 30 years, that will recover resident taxpayer investment.

I am far from knowledgeable about developing, constructing and managing a public parking garage. My assumption is our city leaders are well versed in public policy, zoning, codes, and other daily municipal functions, but there are specialists in private development that have the knowledge and expertise to make this happen on a for-profit basis.

Is it too late to get the proper road map that assures resident taxpayers are not left holding this massive debt?

P.S. Our city is already committed to close to $48,000 annually in debt service for the Christman Farm property on Butterworth Road acquired in 2007 which has remained vacant all these years and has disappeared from the city council’s interest. This translates to hundreds of thousands of resident taxpayer’s dollars being flushed down the proverbial toilet for too many more years.

Can you afford more? Who’s going to step up to the plate and get the answers?

Oct 8, 2019