Rural Ohio Townships Are Important

Rural Townships are Important to Highland County

Smaller government entities, specifically rural townships, are an important asset to Ohio and should remain in their current state without forced consolidation. Ohio's smaller local governments are more accessible and responsive, and they spend less money. They are closer to the people and are better for Highland County.

A recent report by the Ohio Township Association indicates that townships spend less, borrow less and have lower taxes per capita than other local governments. The report is in response to the claim that smaller governments duplicate services, costs residents more money and could be reduced by joining with other government entities.

According to the report, all of Ohio’s local governments spend a total of approximately $48 billion per year. Municipalities spend 21.3 % of this amount, while townships spend only 2.7% with the balance of the spending by school districts, counties and special districts. And, in Ohio metropolitan areas, cities with more than 100,000 residents spent more than five times the per capita rate of local governments with populations of 1,000 to 2,500. The report also showed that per capita spending of Ohio’s larger townships, with populations as high as 60,000, is less than cities of comparable size, while supplying similar services

 

Townships have entered the state’s Local Government Fiscal Distress program less frequently than other government entities. Also, local taxes are less per capita in townships, both statewide and in metropolitan areas. And, townships spend less per capita and have less per capita debt service payments than villages and cities in the same population category.

Townships provide an important quality of life for their residents. In fact, virtually all of Ohio’s population growth between 2000 and 2010 was in townships, with the growth rate being four times the state population growth rate. As a Former Dodson Township Trustee and current County Commissioner, I believe we need to stand by our rural townships in Highland County. Our Township Trustees work hard to keep our roads open when the snow falls, and the water flowing with adequate drainage when it rains. Without our Trustees, rural roads and infrastructure would take a backseat to the urban areas of Ohio.

Rural Township governments are successfully delivering on the democratic values of superior accessibility and responsiveness, while maintaining our rural infrastructure, with lower taxes and spending. Rural Townships are an important asset to Highland County, Ohio and should remain in their current state without consolidation.

 

Jeremy Shaffer

Highland County Commissioner

 

Ohio Township Association

 

Wendell Cox Report on Local Government in Ohio 2July 012

 

Wendell Cox Report for Township Gov't Ill 2011

 

The Facebook Page for Local Democracy in Ohio

 

Township Trustees and Fiscal Officers are paid a salary. The salary is determined by the Budget of the Township and is set by the State of Ohio General Assembly. For 2013, the rate has not changed. Check out the rate chart by clicking here, and being redirected to the Compensation Chart on the OTA.

 

Grant opportunities are becoming more available to Ohio Townships. For a few Grant opportunities from OEPA for 2013, Click here and be redirected to a Information Sheet on EPA Grant for Litter and More

Times Gazette Online Letter to Editor - Jeremy Shaffer: We need to stand by our rural townships