DevelopOhio

Last week, an Ohio House of Representatives panel heard Rep. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) deliver sponsor testimony on H.B. 289, which he introduced earlier this month to reinforce the requirement that the townships, municipalities and businesses involved in proposed joint economic development zones (JEDZ) and joint economic development districts (JEDD) obtain community support before agreeing to the arrangement, according to the Gongwer Ohio Report (See our Oct 10, 2013, blog post – "H.B. 289 would require approval from real property owners and lessees before a joint economic development district or zone could be approved, amended or renewed"). Referring to a "900-employee penal institution" included in a proposed zone that had no plans for economic development, Schuring said his plan would require "100 percent of the businesses and property owners in the zone or district [to] sign a petition approving their inclusion in the zone or district" so that entities such as that one could not be subjected to the tax against their will (See our June 18, 2013, blog post – "Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction contests economic development district proposal"). For more, read the full text of H.B. 289.