In reviewing tax delinquent properties in Brookfield Township, the township trustees learned that they are among the scofflaws.
Not the trustees personally; the township owns three properties that have back taxes.
Trustee Dan Suttles explained that township-owned properties can be tax-exempt, but not automatically. The township has to prove it is using the property for a township purpose, or plans to use it for one in the future, and file an application with the county. Upon county review, the application goes to the state for a final determination, he said.
The three properties at issue:
- A parcel of 0.12 acres on George Street, a dirt road north of Superior Street and west of Sharon Hogue Road. The lot was donated to the township by St. Patrick’s Church of Hubbard in 2008. “In no way can we use that property for township use,” Suttles said. The township owes $157 in taxes, according to the county auditor.
- A parcel of 1.2 acres on the west end of Wood Street. The county once had a water tower on the property, but donated the parcel to the township in 2012 after the tower was removed. It is a potential entrance to a cemetery if the township ever develops the 13-acre property west of the township building for a cemetery, which is what a past board of trustees had acquired it for in 2000. The township owes $5,505 in taxes.
- The last parcel is at First and Mulberry streets, where the township installed a pocket park. The township, which acquired the property in 2020, owes $1,171.
The township never filed tax-exemption applications on the Wood Street or First Street properties, Suttles said. The law states that an exemption application cannot be filed while taxes are owed on a property. The trustees agreed Feb. 2 to pay the taxes and then file applications.
There is a three-year look back period so, if the applications are approved, the township will get some of the money it paid back, Suttles said.
Trustee Mark Ferrara suggested selling the George Street property, but Suttles said he is not sure who would want it. The parcel is very small and across the street from an Ohio Edison high-tension-wire tower. Maybe, Ohio Edison would be interested, the trustees said.
