The Curious Case of a 38 Acre Parcel

Vol. III, No. 102 - A small sliver of land near Interstate 75 is in the crosshairs of two school districts

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A 38-acre parcel of land in Miami County has become the center of a quiet but important debate between Piqua City Schools and Troy City Schools. What began as a routine annexation has now raised bigger questions about school district borders, municipal growth, and the fierce competition for tax revenue. Earlier this year, the City of Piqua annexed the land from Concord Township. Normally, annexations of this sort pass without much notice. But in this case, the unusual twist is that the land, although now inside Piqua’s city limits, remains part of the Troy school district.

That simple fact has set the two school districts on a collision course. School district lines are not easily redrawn; they are set by the Ohio Board of Education and only change in rare circumstances. This means the annexed land cannot automatically shift over to Piqua schools even though the city claims it as its own territory. With the potential for major tax revenue at stake, both districts have turned their attention to this sliver of farmland near Interstate 75.

The dispute has little to do with students since the property is slated for commercial and industrial development, not residential housing. What matters is the money. Commercial land is especially prized by school districts because it expands the property tax base without creating new costs for educating students. In other words, it delivers a financial gain without adding burdens to school budgets. For Troy, which already counts the parcel inside its district, keeping the land means protecting that future revenue. For Piqua, gaining a share of the money would offer new resources to strengthen its schools and help justify the City’s broader annexation strategy.

Talks between the two districts have taken place in recent months. Piqua has tried to find a way to share the revenue, but Troy has refused, holding firm that the parcel will remain inside its district and that the boundaries should not be redrawn. Superintendent Chris Piper of Troy City Schools explained that, since no residents currently live there, the most practical step is to leave things as they are. Piqua disagrees. With no understanding reached, the issue is headed to the Ohio Board of Education. Paperwork must be filed by April 2026 and a final decision is expected later that fall.

This annexation also reflects Piqua’s larger vision for growth. The city’s annexation into Concord Township, represents a huge step foward for the community in their aspirations to move south. In exchange for annexed land, Piqua commits to providing full municipal services such as police, fire, emergency medical, and public works.

Crucially, the city also extends water and sewer service, which makes development possible, although property owners must pay for tap-ins and related fees. To soften the blow of losing property tax base, Piqua also shares revenues back to Concord Township, though at a declining rate that disappears after 12 years.

While Piqua expands, Troy faces a different future. Increasingly landlocked, Troy has fewer options for new industrial sites, forcing the city to shift its long-standing strategy. For generations, Troy relied on manufacturing and industrial development to grow and sustain its economy. But as space tightens, city leaders seem to be pivoting toward tourism, betting that visitors and cultural amenities can take the place of sprawling new factories.

The boundary fight over a single parcel of farmland captures this crossroads. It is about more than just which school district will collect future tax dollars. It reflects how cities in the same region compete for growth, the limits some communities now face, and the vital role property taxes play in sustaining public education and city services. What happens with these 38 acres will be watched closely—not just by educators and developers, but by residents of both cities whose futures are tied to how their communities adapt and grow.

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