Muskingum Rec. Center seeks county assistance

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The Muskingum Recreation Center (MRC) is seeking public financial support amid a downturn in business.

MRC board members met with the Muskingum County Commissioners to propose a funding solution; one that would increase the real property conveyance fee.

“As a result we would be asking for an increase in conveyance fee which is the fee that is paid when you sell a piece of property to the county,” said Paul Masterson, MRC board member. “Currently that fee is $3 per $1,000. We’re asking for that to be increased to $4 per $1,000 to benefit the MRC.”

According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, the real property conveyance fee is paid by persons who make sales of real estate or used manufactured homes. There is a statewide mandatory tax of $1 per $1,000 (1 mill) sold or transferred. However, counties can impose a permissive real property transfer tax of up to 3 mills.

Masterson said the proposed increased would generate $200,000 a year for the facility.

The MRC has lost around 600 members, some due to the membership costs, according to Masterson. He said what sets their facility cost aside from competitors in the area is the indoor pool, which requires significant maintenance dollars.

As of 2009, the most recent year data was available, the Ohio Department of Taxation reports 87 of the 88 Ohio counties have levied the additional tax, ranging from 1 mill to 3 mills, with the only exception being Ross County.

However, their one request to the commissioners does not stand alone.

“Obviously the community has a lot of competing interest, and those competing interests have to be weighed in with the interests of the MRC, and the funding of that facility,” said Masterson.

Those interests include repaving of failing roads and replacement or maintenance to bridges throughout the county.

Masterson said to date around $13.5 million has been invested in the MRC.