County looks at permissive tax figures

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It hasn’t been a good year for retail sales in Van Wert County, if permissive tax figures are any indication.

According to County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger, permissive taxes are down more than $75,000 over last year’s figures.

Lichtensteiger said it appears as if the decreases could be a result of the extremely cold weather seen this winter, since several area counties saw a decrease in permissive tax revenues, but that’s not a given either, since two area counties — Auglaize and Mercer — saw an increase in their permissive tax figures this winter.

“That put us on our heels a little bit,” the commissioner said of the fact those two counties had increases.

Lichtensteiger said he hopes the situation rectifies itself as warm weather returns, since continuing deficits could have a serious impact on the county’s more than $4 million budget.

One positive for the county, was County Treasurer Bev Fuerst’s statement that Van Wert County’s aggregate investment rates are among the highest in the state, with an aggregate rate of 1.11 percent. Although the rate is nowhere near the investment rates seen prior to the 2008 recession, they are at least above the norm for Ohio political subdivisions.

Also last week, the commissioners met with officials from Iberdrola Renewables, as well as Scott Potter from Ohio State University, to talk about what to expect from the county concerning the proposed Dog Creek Wind Farm project.

The meeting, held the day after a public education session hosted by Lincolnview Local Schools, was mostly for the purpose of sharing information on what each side could expect in connection with the proposed wind farm project.

Lichtensteiger said the commissioners are basically letting the township trustees take the lead on the Dog Creek wind project, since they’re the ones who have to handle most of the problems and complaints related to the wind farm.

“We’ve told the trustees: ‘Whatever kind of deal you guys collectively strike, that’s what we’ll endorse,’” Lichtensteiger said.

The commissioners also met with Peter Boyle, industrial development director for the Genesy & Wyoming Railroad, to discuss the railroad spur and other requirements needed for the industrial megasite north of Van Wert.

“We’re just trying to get up to speed on the railroad spur,” Lichtensteiger noted. “We’re trying to get a handle on the things that need to be done and that they’re being done appropriately.”

The commissioner said he, personally, also wanted to learn more about the Van Wert Port Authority itself and its set-up.

“I didn’t have a good understanding of the Port Authority’s functions, and how the railroad spur fits in,” he said.

The commissioners also signed a proclamation honoring the Crestview boys’ basketball team for winning the Division IV state championship.