Reynoldsburg Considers Reviving Development Agency to Boost Old Reynoldsburg
Legislation on Monday's agenda would designate the Reynoldsburg Development Corporation as an agency to revitalize Old Reynoldsburg using redirected hotel tax revenue.
Reynoldsburg City Council is scheduled to convene Monday, Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 7232 E. Main St., according to the official meeting agenda.
The agenda places on first reading an ordinance designating the Reynoldsburg Development Corporation as an agency of the city under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10, according to the meeting schedule. Under the proposed legislation, the designation authorizes the execution of an agreement and plan for industrial, commercial, distribution, and research development.
Reynoldsburg City Hall, located at 7232 E. Main Street in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Credit: Sixflashphoto / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Image source
Revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg
Directing hotel tax revenue to a Community Improvement Corporation is intended to establish a stable funding source focused on revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg, which faces a local vacancy rate of approximately 30 percent.
The funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, and business signage. According to committee records, he noted that the funds could also support income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
Director Meyer stated that the city has a small amount of startup money allocated for this in the current budget, approximately $20,000. In response to questions from Councilmember Angela Abram regarding the timing of funding and grants, Meyer stated that the city administration aims to hit the ground running in January 2027 to begin planning and creating guidelines for the corporation.
Dedicated Hotel Tax Funding
Directing half of the city's collected hotel tax revenue to the Community Improvement Corporation would provide an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 annually based on current receipts. Based on current collections, Meyer estimated that allocating half of the hotel tax follows best practices by ensuring reliable annual funding without requiring yearly appropriations.
Under municipal provisions outlined during the Oct. 12 meeting by City Attorney Shook, the 50 percent reappropriation occurs only if the corporation is active, with the city defining an active entity as having held at least one meeting in the preceding 12 months.
The consent agenda for second reading includes an ordinance to amend Chapter 192 Hotel Tax of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Reynoldsburg. Because the state expanded its hotel definition, the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax.
Mayor Joe Begeny clarified that 25 percent of the hotel tax revenue will continue to go to the local visitor's bureau to preserve statutory collection authority, while the final 25 percent will be reappropriated for council use. Begeny proposed using the council's portion to fund public art initiatives and residential entryways, particularly in neighborhoods without homeowners' associations or existing neighborhood markers, with specific projects vetted by an outside committee before final council approval.
Councilmember Salvati stated that past meetings discussing the creation of a CIC got up to the point of considering funding before falling apart, adding that he was happy to see this brought back into discussion.
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Reynoldsburg City Council is scheduled to convene Monday, Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 7232 E. Main St., according to the official meeting agenda.
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City Council Council Meeting 7232 East Main Street Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 www.reynoldsburg.gov Mollie Prasher, Clerk of Council 614-322-6836 Monday, October 26, 2026 6:30 PM Council Chambers
The agenda places on first reading an ordinance designating the Reynoldsburg Development Corporation as an agency of the city under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10, according to the meeting schedule.
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12. CONSENT AGENDA FOR FIRST READING a. An Ordinance Designating the Reynoldsburg Development Corporation as an Agency of the City Under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10 Political Designating Community Improvements and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement and Plan for Industrial,
Under the proposed legislation, the designation authorizes the execution of an agreement and plan for industrial, commercial, distribution, and research development.
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t Corporation as an Agency of the City Under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10 Political Designating Community Improvements and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement and Plan for Industrial, Page 2 Commercial, Distribution, and Research Development
The consent agenda for second reading includes an ordinance to amend Chapter 192 Hotel Tax of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Reynoldsburg.
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13. CONSENT AGENDA FOR SECOND READING a. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 192 Hotel Tax of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Reynoldsburg
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Directing hotel tax revenue to a Community Improvement Corporation is intended to establish a stable funding source focused on revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg, which faces a local vacancy rate of approximately 30 percent.
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He explained that half of the collected hotel tax revenue would be directed to a CIC to establish a stable, long-term funding source for community programming, particularly focused on revitalizing Old Reynoldsburg. Highlighting a local vacancy rate of approximately thirty percent, he noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
The funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, and business signage.
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Highlighting a local vacancy rate of approximately thirty percent, he noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
According to committee records, he noted that the funds could also support income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
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he noted that the funds could support matching grants for building facades, interior improvements, fire suppression systems, signage, and income tax grant pilots to aid small businesses.
Director Meyer stated that the city has a small amount of startup money allocated for this in the current budget, approximately $20,000.
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Director Meyer stated they do have a small amount of startup money allocated for this in the current budget, approximately $20,000.
In response to questions from Councilmember Angela Abram regarding the timing of funding and grants, Meyer stated that the city administration aims to hit the ground running in January 2027 to begin planning and creating guidelines for the corporation.
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Councilmember Abram asked if there was an estimated time frame for a grant and Page 6 when money could possibly be allocated. Director Meyer stated that in reference to the creation of the CIC, their intention is to come to Council next week with this back on the agenda with legislation to amend the CIC. They would like to hit the ground running in January 2027 so they can begin planning and creating guidelines for the CIC and review where funding stands at that point.
Directing half of the city's collected hotel tax revenue to the Community Improvement Corporation would provide an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 annually based on current receipts.
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Based on current collections, Director Meyer estimated that allocating half of the hotel tax would provide roughly $300,000 to $350,000 annually for these economic development efforts, following best practices by ensuring reliable yearly funding without requiring annual appropriations.
Based on current collections, Meyer estimated that allocating half of the hotel tax follows best practices by ensuring reliable annual funding without requiring yearly appropriations.
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Based on current collections, Director Meyer estimated that allocating half of the hotel tax would provide roughly $300,000 to $350,000 annually for these economic development efforts, following best practices by ensuring reliable yearly funding without requiring annual appropriations.
Under municipal provisions outlined during the Oct. 12 meeting by City Attorney Shook, the 50 percent reappropriation occurs only if the corporation is active, with the city defining an active entity as having held at least one meeting in the preceding 12 months.
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Attorney Shook stated that 50% of the reappropriation to the CIC occurs if it is active and the City defines active as having held at least one meeting in the preceding 12 months. According to that definition, the CIC's reappropriation calculations would take effect after a meeting is held.
Because the state expanded its hotel definition, the city needs to update legislation to include short-term rentals in the bed tax.
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When the state first permitted cities to do this bed tax, they had a very narrow definition of what a hotel was and then quite a few years ago they expanded that definition and the City now needs to update legislation to include that expanded definition. They would now like to include short-term rentals in this bed tax.
Mayor Joe Begeny clarified that 25 percent of the hotel tax revenue will continue to go to the local visitor's bureau to preserve statutory collection authority, while the final 25 percent will be reappropriated for council use.
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Mayor Begeny clarified the allocation for the remaining half of the hotel tax revenue. He explained that 25% would continue to go to the Visitor's Bureau as required by mandate to maintain collection authority, while the final 25% would be reappropriated for Council use.
Begeny proposed using the council's portion to fund public art initiatives and residential entryways, particularly in neighborhoods without homeowners' associations or existing neighborhood markers, with specific projects vetted by an outside committee before final council approval.
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He proposed using those funds to support public art initiatives and enhance residential entryways throughout Reynoldsburg, particularly in neighborhoods lacking homeowners' associations to maintain signage or for areas currently without neighborhood markers. He noted that an outside committee would determine specific projects before presenting them to Council for final approval, emphasizing that the overarching goal was to leverage visitor-generated tax revenues to improve the aesthetic appeal and overall quality of life across the City.
Councilmember Salvati stated that past meetings discussing the creation of a CIC got up to the point of considering funding before falling apart, adding that he was happy to see this brought back into discussion.
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Councilmember Salvati stated that a few years ago there were meetings discussing the creation of a CIC, and it got up to the point of considering funding, but then it seemed to fall apart. He stated that he was happy to see this brought back into discussion.