By Jim Coridan, SIOR, Chair
Governmental Affairs Committee
Here we are in the middle an important election year. The Governmental Affairs Committee has the following goals for 2006 established at the CBR leadership retreat:
n Get CBR members more aware and active in the political process.
n Identify local issues that impact real estate and property rights.
n Monitor federal and state issues and candidates.
n Have a positive impact on this year's election.
n Get more members (%) to give to CORPAC.
Please plan on participating in the CORPAC Auction May 24th (Hyatt Regency) and the golf outing September 7th at Foxfire.
Call to Actions are important!
When you get an email from CBR, OAR or NAR that is a call to action, take a minute to respond. Many of the elected officials don't read the letters they just count them. So if we get a massive response for our position on an issue it gets more attention.
Local Issues
The committee has established a township subcommittee chaired by Jim Case. They had a booth at the Ohio Township Association Winter Meeting. We are trying to get to know more of the local officials. If you have a relationship with a township office holder let Jim know.
State Issues
OAR and CBR are actively monitoring several issues including, restrictions on eminent domain used for economic development (non blighted areas), a bill dealing with predatory lending, and more restrictive regulations on home sewage treatment systems (septic)
The Apartment Association has filed a lawsuit against the commercial tax roll back elimination as they want to have apartment complexes classified as residential properties. (They are currently considered commercial above 4 units.)
There is a house bill to allow school districts to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Taxation or other entities such as Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) to collect a possible income tax for schools on top of the city income taxes. I think we will see more districts going for income taxes as a means to collect more money when school levies are very difficult to pass in certain areas.
House Bill 491 was developed by OAR to address the many different brokerage business models such as limited service listings (FSBO's in the MLS). The OAR task force had a unique solution to the problem. They want the State to make the limited service brokers have the sellers sign a form that shows the consulting and services that they are not going to get with the limited service listing. This may become a national model. Most sellers will see that you get what you pay for.
Federal Issues
The U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would allow small business owners to join a buying pool to reduce the cost of health insurance which would make rates more competitive as they are now for larger companies. This bill contains a provision that would allow trade and professional associations (like NAR) to offer group health coverage across state lines.
Banks in real estate has been a hot topic for along time. The Office of the Comptroller of Currency has approved a bank as an equity owner of a luxury hotel and another bank as a majority owner of a windmill farm. The bank in the windmill deal will even get a tax credit for producing an alternate energy source. NAR has a strong position that banks should take deposits and make loans and not be in risky business ventures where they have an unfair advantage over the private sector because of their lower cost of capital.
Our remaining committee meetings are at 9:00 am May 26th, October 6th and December 1st. You are welcome to join us and get involved with the political process and your board.
Some of your leadership is going to Washington D.C. in May to let our elected officials know where we stand on several issues.
Also encourage all of your family, friends and coworkers to VOTE!!
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