Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District reduces property assessment
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is reducing its annual property assessment from $6 to $2.
The district — which covers 18 counties in Northeast and Eastern Ohio — recently announced the decision.
“We have always been good stewards of these public funds and are very pleased to allow residents in the watershed to keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their pockets,” Executive Director Craig Butler said in a prepared statement.
Previous reduction: Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District assessment fees cut in half
“We are making this reduction because the district’s financial position has changed positively. We have been fortunate to earn and invest nearly $200 million in our public-use facilities and recreational areas, and now for the second time, the board has voted to extend those benefits to the property owners in our watershed by reducing the assessment collection.”
With the 66% cut, the district will collect about $4 million less a year in assessments, it said.
Property owners in all or portions of the following counties pay the assessment: Ashland, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Washington and Wayne.
What is the Muskingum Watershed assessment?
The assessment was levied in 2009 at $12 per parcel and was then cut to $6 in 2015. Assessments are collected through landowners’ county property tax payments, and the funds are required to be used on the operation and maintenance of the system of 16 dams and reservoirs.
The revenue also is used to support the work of other regional agencies and groups involved in conservation programs, water quality issues and flood reduction and mitigation projects through the Partners in Watershed Management (PWM) Project Assistance Program.
The dam and reservoir system was constructed nearly 90 years ago for flood prevention and water conservation in the Muskingum River Watershed, as well as other conservation and reservoir management projects.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District lowers assessment to $2
