Sticking point for township on casino sites is tax money

by John Smith, Staff Writer

Jan 12, 2010 08:07 AM

A vote by Franklin Township trustees against two potential casino sites and a close decision by neighborhood leaders on the Hilltop haven't hurt the West Side area's chances in Columbus City Hall.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman has said he won't support moving the planned casino to any neighborhood that doesn't want it. But his spokesman said yesterday that the mayor considers West Side reaction so far more favorable than not.

Although "the jury's still out," Coleman spokesman Dan Williamson said, business and neighborhood groups, elected representatives, and even Franklin Township voters weighing in on last fall's statewide ballot measure tilted toward casinos.

Penn National Gaming Inc., which would develop the Columbus casino, is studying locations other than the Arena District site that was specified in the constitutional amendment. Coleman has suggested at least four other places for the company to consider.

Penn National has reserved the right to stick with the Arena District, but if either Westland Mall or the former Delphi Corp. auto-parts plant is chosen, Columbus officials will discuss issues such as annexation and revenue sharing with Franklin Township, Williamson said.

Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers said the company wants to build in the city because it wants "to be part of the Columbus business community."

The West Side-area sites are outside the city, and Franklin Township trustees voted last week against a casino endorsement.

Township officials said yesterday that they're fighting for more than a share of the tax money a casino would generate. They said they're also fighting for survival.

Although Westland Mall is nearly empty and the Delphi plant is idle, the W. Broad Street properties near I-270 still represent two of the three biggest sources of property taxes for Franklin Township, trustees Chairman Timothy Guyton said.

Guyton voted in favor of a Hilltop-area casino last week but said the land should stay in the township or be annexed only with a revenue-sharing agreement.

Either property still would get fire and emergency-medical service from the township because one of its stations is just around the corner on Sullivant Avenue. That means Franklin Township would lose tax money and bear increased costs without a share of tax money, Guyton said.

"I want this shot in the arm, this unique opportunity for the West Side of Columbus," he said. "It's still Franklin Township's desire to work out some sort of revenue share."

Without an agreement, Franklin Township could end up with nothing.

If property owners want to be annexed, townships have little control if at least 5 percent of the land is contiguous with the city and the site is smaller than 500 acres, said Jack Reynolds, an annexation lawyer with Smith and Hale.

The Delphi property and Scioto Downs, another possible site for the casino, are next to Columbus. But Westland Mall isn't, so officials probably would have to persuade other property owners to be annexed to create a bridge to the city limit.