Improving Anderson Township WITHOUT raising taxes

Does this sound too good to be true? Anderson Township 2020 is a collaborative vision for Anderson
Township that would increase Park District offerings and build a new Anderson High School without any
tax increase and also build a larger, tax-earning business district that will benefit the township with new
jobs and services for years to come.
Anderson Township 2020 was recently presented to members of the Board of Education of the Forest
Hills School District, the Anderson Township Trustees and the Anderson Township Park District Board.
This plan can arguably be called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for increased educational and business
opportunities within the community that wont require new taxes. However, time is limited for
residents to show their support for this measure.
Proposed by the same team that is developing the new West Clermont High School in neighboring
Clermont County, Anderson Township 2020 calls for simultaneously creating a brand new Anderson
High School in a new location, expanding the existing business district and laying the groundwork for a
future recreation center for the Park District.
What follows is an outline of the plan and an explanation of what is standing in the way.

Anderson Township 2020

What happens to the existing Anderson High School site?
This land will be developed into a mixed-use, multi-housing, senior living, office and retail complex.
The development will be located close to the new Downtown Anderson and complement the
exciting new look of Beechmont Avenue. This redeveloped location will yield $47-$57 million of
guaranteed Tax Increment Funding (TIF) that will be directed toward the purchase of land and
construction of the new school. Proceeds from the 2014 bond issue already earmarked for the
renovation of the existing school will go toward this expenditure as well. Benefits to the community
are obvious: the Forest Hills School District will receive a new 50-year building that follows
recommendations from the Ohio Schools Facilities Committee that the recent levy was unable to
provide, and at the heart of the community will be new housing and job opportunities for residents
of all ages.
Where will the new Anderson High School Building be located?
An offer has been made to purchase 40 acres currently owned by Beech Acres Parenting Center to
be used jointly by the School District and the Park District. This acquisition will accommodate the
new school, along with a new stadium and other supporting athletic facilities.
What happens to Beech Acres Park?
This plan also provides land that can be used by the Park District to expand the existing Beech Acres
Park on Salem Road, as well as a future recreation center.

Why is Anderson Township 2020 a win-win for our community?

Everyone wins: Community, students, and business.
Unfortunately, there is a hitch in the plan. While the majority of the Forest Hills School Board
members and the Township Trustees are in support of this development, the Anderson Township
Park District Board is not a willing partner. Instead, they plan to place a bond levy on the November
2015 ballot that will increase property taxes so that they can purchase the Beech Acres land that
they would receive at no cost in this Anderson Township 2020 transaction in order to build a new
recreation center. Such action on their part would eliminate expansion of the communitys business
core at the current Anderson High School site and prevent construction of a more efficient and upto-date educational facility that has the potential to serve generations of the Districts children. This
action begs the questions: Do residents want higher taxes and no real growth, or no new taxes, a
new school, expanded business opportunities and more high paying jobs in the community?
Park Board officials are not elected. Instead the five members are appointed by the Anderson
Township Trustees. Despite requests from the Trustees not to pursue additional taxes and thereby
reject the combined school/business proposal, members of the Park Board recently acted to
supersede the development groups offer for the Beech Acres property. Instead, the Park Board is
now scheduled to vote to place the tax request on the November ballot.
How can residents speak out in favor of this Anderson Township 2020 plan?
It is imperative to act quickly. Please send a letter to the Park District Board at once, requesting
that, for the betterment of both Anderson Township and the Forest Hills School District, the Park
Board not purchase the Beech Acres property and instead leave it as a site for a much-needed new
school. The Anderson Township 2020 plan is the responsible plan for the whole community which
will increase property values, provide a much-needed new high school for the School District, a
location for a new Recreation Center for the Park Board, and an expanded business presence in the
Township. This plan will provide new jobs and added services for our community with no added
taxes. The Anderson Township 2020 plan is the true win-win for the community.