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Prairie Township residents stand behind JEDZ
Prairie Township passed its Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ) after 55 percent of residents voted in favor of Issue 10 on Nov. 8. The JEDZ will create a 2 percent income tax for the commercial strip of West Broad Street, between Interstate I-270 and Hilliard-Rome Road. Faced with nearly half their funding being cut from the state next year, trustees were forced find a new revenue source. It is estimated the JEDZ could exceed revenue of $1 million per year. According to Prairie Township Administrator Tracy Hatmaker, the trustees will first ensure the costs of current operations in the township are covered. This will allow them to begin the implementation of the JEDZ. “Over the course of the coming months, the board will be meeting to finalize planning for increased law enforcement services, the West Broad Street streetscape, the community center and other projects that will be made possible by the success of Issue 10,” Hatmaker said in a statement. If the JEDZ had failed, township officials stated cuts would have been made to their Sheriff’s contract, nuisance abatement program, road projects and senior center. “This is an exciting time for Prairie Township and the board of trustees would like to thank the voters of this community for their support,” Hatmaker said.
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