(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Reynoldsburg is considering a property tax abatement for a Summit Road commercial development that could bring hundreds of jobs, but city leaders say they can’t disclose the company because a recent Ohio law change shields a range of economic development information from state public record laws.
During its June 22 meeting, Reynoldsburg City Council introduced a 75%, 15-year property tax abatement for an undeveloped 80-acre property along the east side of Summit Road and south of Reynoldsburg City Schools’ Summit Road STEM Elementary in the Licking County portion of the city. The site itself is within the Southwest Licking Local School District, the Licking County Auditor’s website shows.
The legislation doesn’t say which company will eventually occupy the property, and only identifies a limited liability company, Summit Road Industrial LLC. The company only registered with Ohio on May 5, but Ohio Secretary of State records only list a statutory agent hired by the firm to register the business and the company’s law firm, both from Cincinnati, and not any of the officers of the company.
Earlier this year, Reynoldsburg Mayor Joe Begeny said the city was in the final stages of securing a commercial development for the site that will be slightly larger than Core5’s three speculative warehouses on Taylor Road that could eventually bring 400 jobs to the eastern suburb.
Begeny told The Dispatch on June 23 that normally the company name would be included in the legislation or he would have shared who it’s going to be, but he said he can’t disclose it because of a state law change that went into effect March 20 that makes a broad scope of economic development information confidential.
The change was part of the state budget correction bill, House Bill 184, which the legislature passed in November and was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December.
The state law applies to any information submitted to counties, municipalities, townships, port authorities and Tax Incentive Review Councils regarding economic development assistance. That could include tax incentive applications, project details, financial information, draft agreements, compliance materials and other records related to tax incentives, Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano wrote in an April 30 Dispatch column.
The state has now updated the law so more information can be shared with the public. Earlier this month, the legislature passed an updated version that says only individualized compensation and payroll information is confidential. DeWine signed the bill into law late on June 24, the legislature’s website shows.
But it’s unclear when the update will take effect. That leaves Reynoldsburg in limbo, and city officials have to wait for whatever comes first: the update becomes effective or the development information becomes a public record after City Council votes on the abatement, which Begeny said will likely happen at the next council meeting on July 13.
Begeny said there should be very limited reasons why local governments can’t share information on economic development deals because residents have a right to know.
“Let’s be honest, people’s general thoughts of trusting government right now is not at its highest levels, and when something like this comes along, all it does is reinforce people’s opinions about the dangers and bad parts of government,” Begeny said.
Separate of the potential abatement, Reynoldsburg City Council unanimously approved acquiring rights-of-way and easements on Summit Road so it can widen the roadway to accommodate the eventual commercial development as well as new housing developments. The planned improvements also include a new traffic signal at Summit Road and East Main Street/U.S. Route 40 to allow for better traffic flow.
The cost of the right-of-way and easement acquisitions will not exceed $300,000, Begeny said.
Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Reynoldsburg considers tax break but can’t reveal company involved due to state law
Reporting by Maria DeVito, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Maria DeVito, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
