The Advocacy Committee of the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce wants our business members to be aware of the upcoming increase in waste taxes.

Solid waste districts in Ohio were created by the State in 1988 to create plans for adequate disposal capacity for the district and to implement programs that would reduce dependence on landfills through reuse, reduction
and recycling. Granville is in a solid waste district that includes four counties: Fairfield, Licking, Coshocton, and Perry.  The solid waste districts can asses taxes/fees to pay for their programs.  These fees are taxes on the generator and are collected at the landfill, but passed back to residents and businesses in their monthly bills.  For years the fees in this district were; In-District $1.00 per ton, Out-of-District  $4.00 per ton, and out-of-state $1.00 per ton.

Increasing program costs coupled with less waste, as a result of the economy, recycling and less out of district waste have caused the Solid Waste District to submit for an increase in fees to cover their costs of approximately $1.8m per year.   The requested new fees are: In-District $3.25 per ton, Out-of-District  $3.50 per ton, and out-of-state $1.25 per ton.   You will note that the businesses and residents in the district, including Granville, will see a 225% increase in taxes, while waste from out-of-district, primarily Columbus, enjoyed a 12.5% decrease.  Particularly alarming, is the fact that the District is encouraging out-of-state waste at the lowest rate of all, $1.25 per ton.  

This leaves many questions unanswered: what has the district done to reduce its expenses in these difficult economic times, why is the majority of the tax burden put on the local businesses and residents and why is the district encouraging out-of-district and out-of-state waste to be dumped in local landfills?

To pass this requested increase the plan requires  townships, villages and cities representing 60% of the population within the District to pass a resolution in support of such a plan.   The City of Newark and Granville Township have already said no.  The Village will vote this coming Wed. night.  However, even with all the people who have or might vote no, Lancaster and Coshocton could give the District enough support to pass this measure.

The Granville Area Chamber of Commerce is opposed to this increase because it will be passed on to our members at a time when businesses don't need an increase in taxes.  We will voice our opposition to this tax at Wednesday's Village Council meeting.  Please join us in making your voice heard.