State Representative Jim Buchy
Lake Facilities Authority- Authority for the Local Citizens 

The restoration efforts at Grand Lake St. Marys continue as the federal, state, and local governments contribute to the cause. The people of the Grand Lake St. Marys have asked for more responsibility for the efforts, and legislators have responded by helping locally drafted legislation become law. The Lake Facilities Authority(LFA) provides the local government exactly what the title says, authority to help with lake restoration. The authority will be checked by the voters and subject to their input. 

The Lake Facilities Authority is not another government entity because it cannot enforce laws, edicts, or resolutions. It is an extension of local government. This makes sure that the authority lies with the officials and citizens of the Grand Lake St. Marys area. The LFA also cannot take land by eminent domain. This protects the local private land owners from having their land taken away by the state government for public use. 

The LFA does not have the authority to place any new taxes on local people without a vote by those who would be subject to the tax. The LFA can propose a property and or a lodging tax for the impacted area and put the proposed taxes on the ballot. Then it is up to the people who inhabit the impacted areas to vote on whether or not the taxes will be implemented. No one can pay the tax without the opportunity to vote, and no one can vote on it unless they will be responsible to pay it. 

The local government is not alone in the effort to restore Grand Lake St. Marys and its watershed. The state of Ohio remains committed to assisting with restoration efforts. The LFA has the ability to apply for state and federal grants and loans for the remediation of the lake and its watershed. The LFA may also sell anticipation bonds and revenue bonds in order to raise money for the efforts at the lake and its watershed. The LFA may also receive aid from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). ODNR may transfer land to the LFA for the purpose of wetland banking, wildlife, or sporting activities.               

This is an issue that needs attention. I appreciate hearing from you regarding the most important issues of the day. Please inform me of your opinion on current topics by completing a survey at tinyurl.com/buchyjuly. Thank you for your continued communication, your feedback helps guide the legislative priorities.