Liberty tax district poised to take leap in revenues

LIBERTY TWP.

A special tax district initiated by Liberty Twp., Middletown and Mason seven years ago is poised to draw even bigger numbers once a major retail project kicks off later this year.

Since going into effect in October 2006, the joint economic development district or JEDD I has earned $4.29 million, of which $3.37 million has gone to Liberty Twp, according to the most recent township data.

With local governments expected to fund a much greater share of infrastructure projects due to lack of available funds at the state and federal levels, the JEDD is certainly important for Liberty Twp., said Caroline McKinney, the townships economic development director.

Its another tool in the toolbox as it relates to economic development and balancing our community between residential and commercial aspects, she said.

Revenues come from a 1.5 percent tax on workers, property owners and business owners in the 685-acre district, which started off with 624 employees at the end of 2006 and increased to 2,431 by 202, a nearly 290 percent increase.

Net revenues are allocated to Liberty Twp. (83 percent), Mason (15 percent) and Middletown (2 percent), according to Kristen Bitonte, the townships administrator. Middletown receives a 5 percent service fee on gross revenues for their administration of the income tax, she said.

Helping boost collection totals have been the ebb and flow of workers responsible for retail and medical construction projects small and large, including the $83 million Cincinnati Childrens Liberty Campus and the $50 million Liberty Interchange.

District revenues are poised to receive another boost when construction starts at Liberty Center, a more than $300 million, 1.1 million-square-foot mixed-used center to be built at the intersection of Ohio 129, Interstate 75 and Liberty Way. Revenues will receive a further boost from construction of a $160 million expansion to Cincinnati Childrens Liberty Campus.

The thousands of employees expected to be added to staff both projects will contribute millions of dollars in the coming decades to fund area infrastructure and road improvements, promoting and sustaining commercial development in the process.

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Liberty tax district poised to take leap in revenues