Sponsor Testimony — House Bill 155

Summary

Sponsor testimony of Representative Monique Smith, 16th House District, on House Bill 155 before the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee, March 10, 2021. The bill would establish the Land Reutilization Nuisance Abatement Program, allowing county land reutilization corporations, otherwise known as county land banks, to access grants for abating nuisance structures on blighted parcels of land. The testimony says the majority of land bank funding is targeted mostly for residential properties, and that the program would allow sites to be cleared of abandoned structures and uncollectable taxes. It also says communities in the sponsor's district are among those likely to carry a greater tax burden when blighted properties go ignored.

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                               Representative Monique Smith
                                         16th House District

                                Sponsor Testimony- House Bill 155

                     House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
                                          March 10, 2021


Chair Edwards, Vice-Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch, and the members of the House
Economic and Workforce Development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide
sponsor testimony on House Bill 155. This legislation would establish the Land Reutilization
Nuisance Abatement Program, allowing for county land reutilization corporations, otherwise
known as county land banks, to access grants for abating nuisance structures on blighted parcels
of land.

Over the years, every region of Ohio has struggled with nuisance structures and blighted
properties such as abandoned hospitals, factories and a variety of commercial sites. They can be
costly to demolish, remodel, and repurpose and, currently, the majority of land bank funding is
targeted mostly for residential properties. This leaves many properties sitting vacant, resulting in
an unsafe environment, no way to collect property tax revenue, and little appeal to investors to
take on demolition and abatement.

The high cost of abating issues on these properties can be one of the biggest deterrents to
redevelopment. By providing funding for the abatement of safety and environmental issues,
especially at former industrial sites, our state can drive economic development by making land
more attractive for redevelopment. If these properties were economically viable to abate without
this program, the private sector would have stepped in to do so years ago. The unfortunate reality
is that too many of these properties go ignored.

It is important to recognize that when abandoned properties become seriously tax delinquent, the
chances of ever collecting those delinquent taxes are virtually nonexistent. This program would
allow for sites to be cleared not only of abandoned structures, but also the uncollectable taxes,
giving the property new life. By investing in a statewide land reutilization initiative, Ohio can
turn abandoned sites into revenue-generating sites and strengthen the surrounding tax base and
property values.

My own district will benefit from this program not just through the opportunity to redevelop
troubled properties but also through the improvement of the countywide tax base. When blighted
properties go ignored in one community, it shifts the tax burden to other communities that must
make up the difference. The communities in my district are among those likely to end up
carrying a greater tax burden in order to maintain crucial county services, which is an outcome
that this program can help to prevent.
                             Representative Monique Smith
                                       16th House District



We can and should support economic development across Ohio by giving county land banks the
necessary funding to abate and reutilize troubled and blighted properties. Ultimately, we all
benefit when abandoned and blighted properties become viable again, are re-developed, and
generate tax revenue throughout our state. Our legislature can support this economic
development opportunity by following the examples of successful county land bank programs
and creating this statewide Land Reutilization Nuisance Abatement Program.

Thank you for the opportunity to present this proposal for a program that we know will help to
build a better and brighter future for Ohio. Representative Upchurch and I appreciate the
committee’s time and are happy to answer any questions.


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