Annexation has been a topic long debated in local branches of government statewide.

Thursday, June 14, 2001

Annexation has been a topic long debated in local branches of government statewide. Cities want to grow, so they look to annex outlying areas, sometimes at the expense of the township in which that particular piece of land is located. And, for the most part, townships have not had a voice and have lost the land, like it or not. The way land is annexed, however, could soon change.

After decades of debate in the Statehouse, a bill that gives townships more say in annexation is on its way to Gov. Bob Taft’s desk. The bill would also require the municipalities taking the land to reimburse the township for some of the revenue it would lose when the land is annexed by a city.

A provision of the bill would require cities to reimburse the townships for lost tax revenue for a period as long as 12 years. Also, the bill asks county commissioners – the governing body that has the final say in annexation – to consider the impact an annexation could have on the township.

This would be a win-win situation. The bill would allow cities the opportunity for continued growth and, at the same time, keep money in the townships’ coffers so the trustees can continue to offer services to their constituents. It would also likely diminish the squabbles between cities and townships over annexation.

Annexation, when done in good faith, is certainly not a bad thing. The growth of a city usually means opportunity not only for residents of that particular municipality but for those of surrounding areas as well. But if the townships get nothing in return, it makes it a tough pill to swallow.

Gov. Taft needs to sign this bill into law for the betterment of local government.