PERRYSBURG – State legislation aimed at curbing economic development agreements would have a negative
impact on growth and regional partnerships, according to area leaders.
State Sens. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, and Edna Brown, D-Toledo, heard comments Friday about how
House Bill 289, soon to be considered by the state Senate, would adversely affect Northwest Ohio.
Nearly 100 attended the 90-minute forum at the Holiday Inn French Quarter, though only a handful made
public comments about the bill, which would effectively eliminate joint economic development zones, or
JEDZs, throughout the state. Gardner urged those who didn’t speak to submit written comments.
JEDZs, as well as joint economic development districts, are similar but distinct arrangements between
municipalities and townships that allow the collection of income tax on businesses located in the area
where they are applied.
Those who supported the bill, which passed the House 89-8 on Feb. 26, said reform of the zones was
required because they were instituted in areas near Cincinnati and Columbus not in support of jobs or
economic development, but as a way to tax businesses with little development actually produced.
HB 289 would prevent renewal of existing JEDZs and allow no new arrangements after the end of this year.
In the meantime, those JEDZs yet to be enacted would come with additional requirements, including a plan
for how any tax revenue would be spent to further economic development.
Some of those who spoke Friday touted the agreements as a way for cities in the region to cooperate in
economic development rather than compete against each other, such as when a prospective business
considers multiple locations within the region, pitting those cities against each other in negotiations.
Among others, officials from Toledo, which collects revenue from many of the area’s JEDZ agreements,
have been outspoken against the bill which passed the House.
Gardner said he would not have supported the House version of the bill, noting that amendments are likely
to be added as the Senate considers the issue.
"I think there’s several weeks more of input and consideration," he said.
Changes to the bill could potentially allow existing agreements to be renewed as long as major terms
don’t change, or with adjustments to the JEDD structure that could allow them to replace JEDZs.
"There are some amendments being drafted and considered, and I think the bill is getting better, but
there’s still more work to do," Gardner said.
Wood County officials did not speak during the meeting, but commissioner Jim Carter, president of the
board, said JEDZs are critical in how water is acquired from Toledo.
"I’m of the opinion that I learn a lot more by listening than I do talking," Carter said.
Commissioners have not discussed the matter in session, but commissioner Doris Herringshaw said that
"the (JEDZs) that have worked seem to have worked well."