Central Ohio is growing and changing rapidly and that will only continue. Without proper controls, planning and management, nearby growth risks overwhelming both communities and the quality of life residents enjoy today in both communities.
Westerville has a history of prioritizing careful, thoughtful planning and successfully managing development. This is a key reason why Westerville is one of the most desirable places to live in Ohio. Merging with Harlem Township gives Westerville residents more control over their borders where the most growth is expected. Without taking the initiative to control our future and manage future development, we risk suffering the consequences of uncontrolled growth, including more traffic and congestion and new, large developments inconsistent with the character of these communities.
There are no proposed financial impacts on Westerville residents. Cities in the state of Ohio are primarily funded by income tax, which is why economic development is important to a vibrant Westerville. One of the opportunities with this merger is job creation.
Income tax funds public services and programs in the state of Ohio. Income is taxed at 2% in Westerville, with credit provided for the community in which you live. Westerville pursues economic investment and workforce development to balance the tax burden for residents.
There is also not a proposed property tax assessment in Westerville. Most of your property tax dollar goes to Westerville schools and the county in which you live (Franklin/Delaware). The merger will not affect school districts (see below).
The City of Westerville uses its portion of property taxes to fund fire protection and emergency medical services. Any remaining funds are directed to the General Fund for infrastructure improvements.
It is important to understand the high-quality services that Westerville residents deserve and expect will not be diminished or diluted due to a merger. If the merger is approved by voters, residents of the former Township will have access to the same services as soon as practical. The timeline and expectations for providing services in Harlem Township will be detailed in the merger agreement which would be presented to voters.
None. Schools are governed by separate, independent school districts and their boundaries are not controlled by cities or townships.
The growth now and predicted for Central Ohio has a direct impact on both communities. We want to work together to pursue thoughtful, well-planned growth and influence regional expansion by combining our resources.
Both Westerville and the Township believe this will lead to continued strong public services, responsive public safety and crime prevention, safe schools and neighborhoods, job creation and overall economic stability.
Most important in this moment is collaborating on controlled, comprehensive planning, in which Westerville has experience, expertise and resources. Both communities believe this provides the most opportunity to preserve what we love while we plan for the future.
Harlem Township officials have been in a proactive strategic planning process for some time. Their intent was to seek a strategic partner, and approached the City of Westerville about opportunities. Informal conversations over the past year gradually became more concrete and finally turned into the idea to explore a formal merger.
Both communities have a history of working together and sharing ideas on issues of common interest, including public safety, smart growth and infrastructure and economic development. With the significant development to the east of our communities expected to bring new opportunities as well as new pressures, both Westerville and Harlem Township officials have been interested in making sure they preserve a high quality of life for their residents, as well as manage new growth in a balanced, responsible way.
Mergers are the formal consolidation of two or more communities, with the majority approval of each communities’ voters. They also allow for more collaboration and negotiation between communities, unlike annexation. Mergers allow local residents to have direct approval. Annexations do not.
Annexation is a legal process by which some property in an unincorporated area of a township becomes part of a city. Often this occurs at the request of a property owner or private developer who wants to build an industrial, commercial or residential building(s) on the land. Many townships are broken up through annexation and divided among one or more different cities, losing their character and their ability to manage growth and development. Avoiding this “chopping up” of Harlem Township and the risk of run-away development that could create significant new traffic congestion and other problems is one of the benefits of a merger.
The merger process is spelled out in Ohio law. The process that Westerville and Harlem are exploring requires:
Yes. Other Ohio townships and municipalities have successfully merged. For example, voters in the Village of Riverside and Mad River Township, the City of Cuyahoga Falls and Northampton Township, and Hudson Village and Hudson Township have all approved mergers. More recently, communities across Ohio are exploring mergers as ways to effectively manage growth and ensure quality development, realize the benefits of shared services and infrastructure and build and sustain the integrity of their community. In fact, in response to the opportunities that have arisen with the explosive growth in the Silicon Heartland, residents of St. Albans Township and the Village of Alexandria in Licking County recently voted in favor of forming a merger commission to explore the possibility of merging their governments.
No. That is not required under Ohio law. In fact, the Ohio General Assembly amended its merger statute (R.C. 709.44) to remove a previous requirement that a township and municipality be adjacent in order to merge. It is required for annexation, but not for a merger.
The voters of each community. Residents of each community will be able to participate in planning, discussion and feedback opportunities that help form the merger agreement.
If either communities’ elected leadership does not approve it by two-thirds then the process would stop. Whether or not it could be taken up again depends on each communities’ elected leaders. If either communities’ voters do not approve it by a simple majority the proposal would fail.
All communities in Central Ohio – including Westerville and Harlem Township – are facing a housing crunch. This is why a comprehensive planning process is so important. Housing impacts development, traffic, services, amenities and much more, and vice versa. A planning process involving members of each community will help mitigate overcrowding, unsustainable housing and other issues.
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