Vacant property bill backed by local treasurer

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer 9:09 PM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

COLUMBUS — Montgomery County Treasurer Carolyn Rice isn’t looking for a silver bullet but Rice sure would like an additional tool to tackle the ever-growing number of vacant and abandoned properties scarring the county.

That’s what brought Rice to a House committee on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to seek passage of House Bill 313, sponsored by Rep. Roland Winburn, D-Harrison Twp., permitting Montgomery County and other counties with populations greater than 100,000 to organize county land banks.

The land banks would be used to acquire abandoned properties and make plans for reusing them, possibly for parks or new housing.

There were 23,262 foreclosures filed in Montgomery County from Jan. 1, 2005, to Oct. 26, 2009, Rice told the Local Government and Public Administration Committee.

“I wish I had the exact number of vacant and abandoned properties to share with you but I don’t,” said Rice. “The number changes every week.”

The crisis affects villages like Phillipsburg as well as cities like Dayton, Rice said. “The problem affects every jurisdiction in our county.”

Interest on delinquent property taxes would be a source of revenue to get the land bank started, she said.

Current state law authorizes only Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, to develop this kind of land bank. The federal economic stimulus plan provided startup money in Cuyahoga County and other funds come from foundations and penalties and interest on delinquent property taxes, according to Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis.

Other Dayton-area counties that would meet the 100,000-population threshold in the legislation include Warren, Clark, Greene, Butler and Miami.

More hearings are planned on the bill before the committee acts.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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