The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has informed county auditors and treasurers that the MWCD is taking action designed to allow the county officials to smoothly proceed with their important work of timely mailing property tax statements.
The 18 counties in the MWCD region were facing a possible delay in the production of property tax statements while officials reviewed legislation passed last week by the Ohio General Assembly that puts a temporary hold on a planned assessment by the conservancy district.
Because the assessment for the MWCD had been approved by its Board of Directors this year, county auditors and treasurers had proceeded to place it on the tax bills. However, legislative action delaying the assessment was causing confusion as how to proceed. The MWCD wanted to remove any confusion.
MWCD officials contacted auditors and treasurers in the conservancy district’s region today (Dec. 17) and informed them that the MWCD does not intend on interrupting or delaying the property tax statements, which routinely are finalized late in the calendar year for collection early the following year.
“The MWCD realizes the importance of the work of county auditors and treasurers in the timely production and mailing of property tax bills, and the importance of maintaining the revenue stream for all public agencies and school districts,” said John M. Hoopingarner, MWCD executive director/secretary.
The Ohio General Assembly approved an amendment to a bill last week that puts a temporary hold on the MWCD’s planned assessment. Collection of the assessment and projects related to major rehabilitation of the reservoirs and dams in the Muskingum River Watershed were scheduled to begin in 2008.
During a special session of the MWCD’s Board of Directors held Friday (Dec. 14), two Board members were appointed to take the lead in discussions with public officials and others about the recent developments. The Board also approved a resolution that authorizes the MWCD administration to take the necessary steps to protect the interests of the MWCD and the residents of the conservancy district region.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan for flood reduction and water conservation in the Muskingum River Watershed, an 18-county area in east-central Ohio. By 1938, 14 dams and reservoirs were constructed - two others were built later - and the system has prevented billions of dollars in potential property damage from flooding and provided water for public uses.
The MWCD is the only large conservancy district in the state that has not levied an assessment but needs to do so now because of the aging of its reservoirs and dams. The MWCD assessment would collect about $210 million over the next 20 years and it would be used as a local match to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for projects in the region.
The counties wholly or partially contained in the MWCD jurisdiction are Ashland, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Washington and Wayne.
### - END - ###
View more
press releases
Return to Main Page
