May 26, 2011
Board picks forecast with cash balance By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers The New Albany-Plain Local school board approved its five-year financial forecast May 23 in a split vote. The board was given two forecasts to review. One showed a cash balance of $9,644 at the end of fiscal year 2013, and the other showed a $451,450 deficit at the end of the same year.
Four board members — president Mark Ryan, vice president Laura Kohler, Natalie Matt and Cheri Lehmann — voted to approve the forecast that did not show a deficit. Michael Klein voted against it. During the discussion, superintendent April Domine said the forecast with a balance of $9,644 included: the reduction of permanent substitutes, saving $100,000 annually; fixing the costs of
supplies and equipment regardless of enrollment growth; and eliminating hiring new teachers for fiscal year 2012. Klein argued that the approved forecast did not invest in the district’s future and did not include new programming or funds to address the district’s overcrowding issue. He said the district already absorbed costs for permanent improvements after allowing the last permanent improvements levy to expire.
By putting off so many expenses, Klein said, the district is going to have to ask for a lot of money when any issue is placed on the ballot. “We will be out of permanent improvements money, out of operating money and we are out of space,” he said. Matt countered that the board is not procrastinating on any decisions. Rather, she said, the board is facing the tough decisions on big issues at the same time
it is dealing with an unusual economic situation. “We are trying to give the community the time to recover in a very difficult economic moment in our country,” she said. “We’re not putting it off. We’re giving people space to recover.” Lehmann admitted the forecast had weaknesses but said the district would See FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, page A2
Brickman nets local, state incentives for move to city By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers A company that has worked in New Albany for many years plans to move its Ohio operations to the city this summer. “Our plan right now is to move in mid-August. That’s our time frame,” said Mark Strayer, divisional vice president of Brickman Facility Solutions. Brickman Facility Solutions is a division of The Brickman Group of Maryland. Strayer said the company’s facility solutions division includes landscaping services and snow removal. “We provide exterior maintenance to national retail clients across the country,” he said. The state of Ohio and the city of New Albany recently approved tax incentives for Brickman’s relocation. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority on May 23 approved a sevenyear, 50-percent tax credit for the company’s move. The company is required to have $3.4 million in payroll and must remain at the New Albany site for 10 years. According to information from the state, the “Job Creation Tax Credit is a major factor in Brickman’s decision to relocate its operations in New Albany. … The credit will allow the company to go forward with the operation
Photos by Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Urban center district
Founders Day celebration
Officials: New code should ease process for development
(Above) Frank Potts, riding Flicka, and Marie Potts, astride Josie, represented L’Equipage Stables in Sunbury during the annual New Albany Founders Day parade May 21. (Left) Christian Barnard, 10, of New Albany, waits for the start of the parade. (Right) Sesi Ratliff, 10, of New Albany, tries to keep her bonnet from blowing away as she and Britney Worch, 11, of Blacklick, ride on the New Albany-Plain Township Historical Society float. For more photos of the Founders Day celebration, see page A6 or visit www.ThisWeekNews.com.
See BRICKMAN, page A4
By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers New Albany’s “form-based” zoning code will go into effect next month for new developments in the urban center. City council on May 17 approved two ordinances related to the new code. The first established the urban center district and the other amended all existing zoning chapters to include the new regulations. Kathryn Meyer, deputy director of community development, said, according to New Albany’s strategic plan, new zoning regulations were needed “to allow for pedestrian scale and oriented development to be maintained and built without extensive reviews and approvals.” See NEW CODE, page A4
Tax incentive review council
Most local companies meeting benchmarks By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers All but one of the New Albany companies that receive tax incentives are exceeding expectations, community development director Jennifer Chrysler told city council last week. Only Tutor Time of New Albany, a day-care facility on Woodcrest Way, has not met its revenue projections, though the company has three years to reach the projected revenue of $18,557, Chrysler said.
“Technically, they are in compliance,” she said. The actual revenue reported in 2010 was $5,090, Chrysler told council May 17. The company was not required to create a certain number of jobs as part of the agreements with council, she said. The company received a 10-year, 100-percent property-tax abatement that requires a certain percentage of income tax to be generated per square foot. Council member Glyde Marsh asked why the company was not meeting expected pay-
roll projections. Chrysler said the payroll benchmark was created before the recession and Tutor Time is the first business to open in that area. Other businesses were expected to follow but none did when the recession occurred. “Without other businesses, they couldn’t attract the students to hire the staff needed to meet their benchmark,” Chrysler said. Marsh suggested renegotiating the agreeSee TAX INCENTIVE REVIEW, page A2
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6100 editorial@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com Retail ads: (740) 888-6017 rgibson@thisweeknews.com Classified: (740) 888-5003 classified@thisweeknews.com
Annie, a Chihuahua mix, is up for adoption at ADOPT Pet Rescue in Westerville. For information on adopting Annie, visit ADOPT’s website: adoptpetrescue.org. Watch a video of Annie at ThisWeekNews.com.
Customer Service: 1-888-837-4342
FREE $200 Gift Card John Deere Z920A $7,749 48”deck 26 Hp Kawasaki Engines Vertical Shaft – Air Cooled Steel Channel Frame Full Pressure Lubrication Systems
“Serving You for the Future”
Purchase any new John Deere Z900 ZTrak series commercial lawn mower, including the John Deere 997, and receive a FREE $200 gift card.
Offer valid May 20- June 5, 2011 at the seven Central Ohio JD Equipment locations. Qualifying purchases must be completed by June 5, 2011. Please allow two weeks from date of equipment delivery for your gift card to arrive. Offer ends August 31, 2011. Prices and model availability may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Available at participating dealers.
Easton • Hilliard • Lancaster • London • Marion Wilmington • Washington Court House www.jdequipment.com
The engine horsepower information is provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for comparison purposes only. Actual operating horsepower will be less. John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE are trademarks of Deere & Company.