Allow for creation of water improvement districts
Legislative Analysis Report Allow for creation of water improvement districts
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This bill allows Ohio counties to create water improvement districts to plan, fund, build, and repair water and wastewater projects. These districts will be run by a board of trustees and can raise money by issuing bonds, charging fees, and placing special assessments (taxes) on properties that benefit from the water projects. The bill also sets up an appeals board in each participating county to handle public disagreements over district decisions.
Water ManagementLocal GovernmentTaxation
2. Changes to Existing Law
ORC Sec. 6120.01 to 6120.19 Enacts a new chapter of law to allow counties to establish water improvement districts, govern them via a board of trustees, levy special property assessments, issue tax-exempt bonds, and create an 11-member appeals board to resolve disputes.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- Counties can now create special districts to build and repair water and sewer systems.
- These districts can charge property owners a special tax (assessment) of up to 10% of their property's value if they benefit from a water project.
- Property owners must receive written notice and have a right to a public hearing before any new water project or property tax is approved.
- A new 11-member appeals board will be created to hear complaints about district decisions, requiring a $70 fee to file an appeal.
- The districts have the power to buy, lease, or take property (using eminent domain) to build water projects, though they cannot take active public utility property without replacing it.
4. Entities Affected
- Property owners in areas designated for water improvements
- County, township, and municipal governments
- Water and wastewater utility companies and contractors
- Financial institutions and bond investors
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: Boards of County Commissioners are authorized to create these districts and appeals boards. The Water Improvement District Board of Trustees is given the power to levy taxes, charge fees, buy property, and issue bonds. The Water Improvement District Appeals Board is given exclusive authority to rule on disputes and make its own procedural rules.
Penalties & Mandates: Property owners in designated benefit areas must pay special assessments of up to 10% of their property's assessable value. A $70 fee is mandated to file an appeal with the county's water improvement district appeals board, though it can be reduced for extreme hardship.
Implementation Timeline: The county must set up the appeals board within 30 days of appointing the water improvement district board. Specific dates for when the entire law takes effect are not specified.
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Local governments can choose to give money to these districts. Districts can raise local revenue by charging fees and levying special property assessments. District projects, property, and bonds are exempt from state and local taxes.
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Thaddeus J. Claggett
District
68
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
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Education
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Elections & Voting
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Taxation & Finance
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Criminal Justice
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Environment
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Business & Commerce
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Labor & Employment
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Agriculture
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Local Government
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Rent & Housing
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Status Changes
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Referred to committee
Feb 05 2025
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Documents
Access the primary source. This section hosts the full, unedited text of the legislation alongside every official document produced during its journey. From the initial draft to the final enrolled version, you can review the exact language being proposed for state law.
