The Koch brothers' interference in an Ohio levy vote has backfired! Their involvement has helped voters decide to support the levy.

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Koch brothers don’t belong here
By The Columbus Dispatch, April 30, 2014

The proposed levy for Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a local issue about a local treasure that will be decided by local voters. To make their decision, Franklin County voters do not need the help of an out-of-state organization that knows nothing about local values and has no stake in the local economy and local quality of life.

Yet, this outside group, Americans for Prosperity, supported by billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, is pouring in money to oppose the permanent 1.25-mill property-tax levy for the zoo.

The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $44 a year, up from $21. That’s an outstanding deal, because it would stabilize the zoo’s finances and provide for a number of attractive improvements, all of which would benefit Franklin County.

Many Franklin County voters already have called foul on this outside interference. And central Ohio leaders know this AFP move is fishy. On Monday, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, City Council President Andrew J. Ginther, Franklin County Board of Commissioners President Marilyn Brown, Columbus Partnership President and CEO Alex Fischer and Ohio AFSCME Council 8 President John Lyall blasted the Koch brothers’ interference:

“A political group funded by undisclosed donors with a Washington-area post office address is trying to influence our election.”

Franklin County voters should decide the zoo issue, local officials said, not “carpetbaggers who don’t live here and don’t care about our community.”

Americans for Prosperity’s participation is having a galvanizing, though unintentional, effect. Many Franklin County residents have said the AFP involvement has helped them decide to support the levy.

Central Ohioans understand the true bottom line. About 2 million people a year visit our world-class zoo. A relatively small investment by taxpayers leverages a $238 million annual boost to the local economy.

AFP’s approach also is deceptive. Its flier describes the zoo levy as “a 105 percent property-tax hike,” implying that each property owner’s total property-tax bill would more than double.

In truth, the levy would amount to less than 1 percent of the overall residential property tax.

Further, while the levy will contribute to building a rain-forest, aquatic-themed zoo attraction Downtown, 85 percent of the levy would be used to update and support popular exhibits at the main zoo.

National political-advocacy groups, including AFP and liberal counterparts such as Emily’s List, long have played a role in supporting local candidates.

That’s fine, given the existence of equally matched donor groups of both stripes. But there’s something unfair about a national heavy-hitter targeting a local ballot issue.

John Kulewicz, co-chairman of the zoo levy campaign, called AFP’s intervention a “stunt.”

“I’ve never heard that they’ve had any interest before in the Columbus Zoo or the people of Franklin County,” he told The Dispatch. “They are playing us.”

Franklin County voters should remember that this group does not have their interests at heart.
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