I would like to thank the Register Herald for printing my letter to the editor on June 9. I mentioned this website as a reference in that letter and for those who are here for more information on the issue I have included links to the audio of that August 24, 2009 meeting. For the full discussion on the raising of the conveyance fee please use this link: File 14

For just the audio of the quotes used from Commissioner Wesler & Commissioner Stonecash .

Pillaging New Paris for Goose Creek

I would like to address the economic development tax fraud that is being perpetrated on the citizens of Preble County. On August 26, 2009, the Preble County Commissioners raised the conveyance fee by a full one mill. First let’s look at the reasons given on the official record of the August 24 meeting for that tax hike by these tax bandits claiming to be Commissioners acting in your best interests.

Commissioner David Wesler : said on the audio record:  “In other counties this is exactly the way they help fund their economic development department. We had a meeting with the elected officials of which they said and they wanted to know where the job creation is at. This is a way to start funding an economic development office to have job creation.”

Commissioner Bob Stonecash:  “At this time the entire one mill should go for an office of economic development.  Now you need to track that, however, maybe we receive quarterly reports as to what kind of money is in that. Quarter or semi-annual until such time as we can act upon hiring an economic development director and I would hope along the way that the rest of the villages and the city and townships in Preble County all join together to make a strong  alliance to take this county forward."

At the time they put the conveyance fee on it was clear that they put it on to fund the office of economic development and hire a director.

This is of significance because the last few months the issue of raising the local “bed tax” on visitors to Preble County has been discussed and is now on the verge of another vote to pay for the same economic development director that the conveyance fee was increased for last year. Why do we need two taxes to pay for the same thing?

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If this tax is passed it would raise the cost to friends, family, travelers and businessmen visiting the county to a level higher than our nearest competitor – Richmond and Wayne County Indiana. The National Road Tourism center uses all of their lodging tax to attract more guests and have them spend money locally.  Many of you are obviously familiar with the added restaurant and entertainment choices available in Richmond.  The Preble County Commissioners are not planning on using a tax increase to match that marketing advantage.  I asked them on the record in chambers on May 12.  Money not spent in our county when guests go elsewhere over the dislike of high taxes will negatively impact New Paris/Jefferson Township.

Richmond /Wayne County understands the importance of tourists spending money in their area. First –  tourist spending creates direct revenues, called the direct-multiplier effect. Second, the recipients of direct expenditures spend that money to purchase necessary goods, for an indirect-multiplier effect. Third, the beneficiaries of the direct and indirect spending in turn spend that revenue on unrelated goods and services, thus creating an induced-multiplier effect.

If a guest goes elsewhere, that multiplier effect acts in reverse and affects all the recipients.  It is ultimately their money and they will choose where and how to spend it.  Interstate 70 does not start and stop at the Preble County line.  Travelers know it, citizens know it, but it is a concept the Commissioners do not grasp.  The best case scenario is no additional tax.

If, however, this tax is raised, the Economic Development Director is to be the Preble County Commissioners buy-in to the Preble County Chambers new Preble County Development Partnership Foundation board. That board has no representation from New Paris/Jefferson Township. This is especially problematic if the commissioners impose the bed tax because a significant part of the revenue for the economic development director will be coming from Jefferson Township. This Board’s make-up is unacceptable. Currently the City of Eaton and the County Commissioners would each have two seats. Any buy-in with money raised from New Paris/Jefferson Township that negatively impacts New Paris/Jefferson Township should require equal seating from that area on any board. This tax would be collected from the hotel & motel in Jefferson Township and the cabins at the campground in New Paris.  Membership on that board not living in Preble County should also be restricted. Anyone wanting to influence both the tax policy and development of this county should live locally and be subject to the local impact of the decisions. The economy of New Paris should not be forfeited while chasing a burger stand at Goose Creek Crossing. 

Let’s be honest about the area known as Goose Creek and the prospect of it being a successful development to the point that people will get off the Interstate at Exit 10. There is a bulldozed gas station at the exit, there is a long abandoned restaurant at the exit and there is a motel that not long ago was closed for an extended period of time. None of which speaks to a public demand for more business at the exit and that is before you add in two truck stops and the truck traffic that some travelers will drive to another exit to avoid. As a county we need to exploit areas that are most likely to sustain economic development or offer the best bang for our limited county buck. Those areas are Eaton, the Stateline, Camden, which has the rail that State of Ohio officials Kevin Carver and Brewster Rhoads asked our County Commissioners about and they never mentioned, and last, but not least, Lewisburg.

It is high time to end a long out of date study claiming the best area to be Exit 10 – Exit 10 is not now and will not be, no matter how many well holes, PowerPoint Presentations and pretty pictures developers are paid to deliver. Richmond & Wayne County spent $50,000 on a study to identify the area best suited for retail development and that area was and continues to be the Stateline.

If you want to hear for yourself what the commissioners have said on this issue, please visit www.citizensforpreblecounty.com .

It is your county, people.  Call the Preble County Commissioners at 456-8143 and voice your opinion.