Validating Fiscal Impact Analysis Methods for a Small Ohio City: Comparing the Outcomes of Two Average Cost Methods

This study assesses the use of two fiscal impact analysis (FIA) approaches for estimating the fiscal impact of land use changes in the City of Harrison, Ohio. The objective of the study is to validate two average cost FIA methods, the Per capita multiplier method and the Service Standard method, as a basis for estimating the fiscal impact of land use changes in Harrison. Based on a comparison of the outcomes of the average cost FIA methods with actual fiscal changes from 2000 to 2006, the estimates of fiscal impacts were found to be different for each of the average cost method. Further, the estimates from each method differed from the fiscal changes actually experienced. Finally, this study suggests ways to improve the accuracy of the Per capita multiplier and Service Standard average cost methods if they are to be used to estimate the fiscal impact of proposal land use changes.