WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Washington Court House City Council moved forward this spring with financing tools for a planned 250-home subdivision on the city’s east side, approving the addition of property to a new community development authority and introducing an ordinance to create eight tax-increment-financing districts tied to the project.
At its April 8 meeting, council held public hearings on the Smith Grove tax-increment-financing incentive districts and on a request to add real property to the Washington Court House New Community Authority District. No residents addressed council at either hearing, according to meeting minutes.
Council then gave final approval, on third reading, to Ordinance No. 6-2026, which adds the property to the New Community Authority District and amends the petition establishing the authority under Chapter 349 of the Ohio Revised Code. New community authorities allow cities and developers to collect charges on new homes to help pay for infrastructure such as roads and utilities.
Council also introduced, on first reading, Ordinance No. 7-2026, which would establish eight incentive districts, declare improvements within them exempt from real property taxation, and approve a cooperative agreement among Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group Inc., the New Community Authority and Argent Institutional Trust Co. Property owners in the districts would make service payments in place of property taxes, with the money deposited into a fund dedicated to public infrastructure improvements serving the new development, according to the ordinance.
A resident on Dayton Avenue told council that with about 250 homes planned nearby, Merritt Way should be converted to a one-way street directing exiting traffic onto Dayton Avenue.
City Manager Joe Denen also reported that Fillmore Construction had been awarded the lowest and best bid on a separate city project, with related legislation expected at a future meeting, and that AES had proposed a rate increase on the utility portion of electric bills, which the city intends to formally oppose.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the City of Washington Court House.
