After reading the article in the Dec. 16 Oxford Leader about Oxford Township officials? rejection of a request to create a rehabilitation district for the Legacy Center in order to potentially allow a tax abatement on only the improvements made to it, all I can say is one word ? greedy.
This action taken by a local government that continually states it wants investment in the community and are ‘willing to work with anyone to gain investment and jobs? shows their true nature ? greed.
Mr. Mills believed their commitment to work with a business like his (especially like his) would be valued and welcomed. So, instead of placing conditions on the purchase agreement of the property that he first must be able to obtain a tax credit or abatement for jobs he is bringing in, tax abatement for the entire existing property taxes for a few years including any improvements, he bought it without them. IF he did place those restrictions on the purchase agreement and the Oxford Township board or the state rejected them he could have walked away and the community would continue to be left with a Dilapidated Eyesore that was only a few years away from demolition due to the lack of maintenance and improvement. Thus bringing down the values of all the community along with the tax loss associated with that decrease in value.
Mr. Mills went ahead without any stipulations for tax abatements in the purchase only to be slapped in the face when he went to shake the hand of the community and ask them for some assistance and belief in the dream he has to help and be part of the Oxford community. By Allowing and supporting him (key word Allowing- as this is only a first step in the process) to apply for an abatement on only the taxes that would be imposed on the improvements for up to 10 years. He currently is paying 46.5 percent or $42,454 more in taxes than the former owner ($91,250) for a total of $133,684. this year. For the Oxford Township Board to deny his request says only one thing ? Oxford Township is greedy.
To relate ourselves to Mr. Mills think of buying a house. You buy a dump of a house; your taxes you pay are now 46.5 percent higher than what the guy had to pay that owned it before you on the same dump of a house. Then, you improve it to something that totally benefits the neighborhood and the community as a whole only to see your taxes go up another 45-50 percent for performing needed maintenance and improving it. See a pattern here?
I wish Mr. Mills would have bought a building or built a building in Addison Township, we would not treat him or his idea to help the community like Oxford Township did. We like what he is doing by building a community center that does not require tax dollars to build and that would never make back that cost on its investment, as all of those have done before because government should not be in that business. His concept blends all the facets you need for one to be successful ? businesses, food, fun, learning, exercise and more. The biggest part is the businesses equal growth.
For Oxford Twp. to not even work with in any way and allow Mr. Mills to even apply for tax abatement on the improvements only shows the true heart of the Oxford Township Board and government ? tax and tax more. Again, greed.
Oxford is not the business-friendly environment that will bring more investment and jobs to the community, that environment brings the whole community and its value up which in-turn deliver more taxes collected on the many not just the one. Their actions revolted businesses that were to bring in jobs and more investment to the community, a sorely needed aspect as we are losing many more businesses, jobs and investment.
We need leaders to realize a net gain when it presents itself, not be greedy in the short term and look past the immediate to how this will grow the community and with it the tax base as a whole.
Ron Renaud
Addison Township