City of Powell, Ohio

What City of Powell, Ohio does

The City of Powell is a Council/Manager-form municipal government serving more than 14,000 residents in Delaware County, Ohio. It delivers core municipal services — police protection, public works, planning and building, engineering, public service, parks and recreation, and finance — through ten departments and divisions organized around a City Manager's Office (currently led by Andy White). Revenue is generated through a 2.0% municipal income tax (collected by the Regional Income Tax Agency since January 1, 2022 under the resident-approved "Powell 2.0" restructuring), property taxes administered by the Delaware County Auditor, and a published annual fee schedule for permits (alarm, solicitor, fingerprinting, golf cart inspection), recreation programs, and development review.

The city's operations run on a stack of integrated municipal software platforms: CommunityCore handles online residential, commercial, and trade permitting (electrical, HVAC, gas) with fee payment, inspection scheduling, and status tracking under a single account; ClearGov publishes budgets and the $54.6M FY2025–2029 Capital Improvement Plan; ArcGIS powers the Address Check Tool, community maps, and MS4 stormwater mapping; NextRequest manages public records; Granicus hosts the multilingual (English, Spanish, Hindi) website and meeting media; Flock Safety operates ten automatic license plate reader cameras with a public transparency portal; and RecDesk handles parks and recreation program registration. The technology model is best characterized as best-in-class SaaS procurement rather than in-house platform development.

Recent strategic activity includes the $6.25M, 32-acre Bennett Farm acquisition (May 21, 2024), CALEA police re-accreditation (March 2025), Phase 2 approval of the Downtown Powell/Village Green Master Plan (September 2, 2025), early bond retirement to capture taxpayer savings (June 18, 2026), launch of a Downtown valet parking program (June 24, 2026), and a data-driven police vehicle fleet upgrade expected to save ~$400,000 (July 6, 2026). Fiscal strength is anchored by S&P's AAA bond rating (since 2013), the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (since 2008), the GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (since 2006), and the Ohio Auditor of State's "Making Your Tax Dollars Count" award.

Name

City of Powell, Ohio

Legal name

City of Powell

Website

https://cityofpowell.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1813

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The City of Powell is a Council/Manager municipal government in Delaware County, Ohio, serving 14,000+ residents with police, planning, building, engineering, parks, and finance services, funded by a 2.0% income tax, property taxes, and permit fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Police Protection (922120)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety services
• Parks and recreation
• Building permits
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Powell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal Income Tax: Effective January 1, 2022, a 2.0% municipal income tax is imposed on all income earned within the City of Powell and on Powell residents who earn income elsewhere but are not taxed locally, with a 100% credit for income already taxed locally up to 2%. Collected by the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA).
2. Property Tax: Property taxes are collected by the Delaware County Auditor on behalf of the city. Information about real estate valuation, tax rates, and special assessments is available on the Delaware County Auditor's website.
3. Building Permits and Fees: The Building Department processes residential and commercial building permits and collects associated fees per the 2026 Fee Schedule. Fees are paid through the CommunityCore online permitting system.
4. Police Fees and Fines: Fees include alarm permits ($25 one-time), solicitor/peddler permits ($75/year), golf cart inspections ($25 for non-residents), fingerprinting fees ($30-$40), and other public safety service charges.
5. Parks and Recreation Fees: Recreation program fees for classes, sports, fitness, STEM, and enrichment programs for all ages. Instructors are paid $18.00/hour (Recreation Program Instructor part-time position).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The City of Powell, Ohio is a municipal government entity delivering local public services to its 14,000+ residents, 1,300+ local businesses, and visitors. Operating through 10 departments and divisions, it provides public safety via a CALEA-accredited Police Department, public works and engineering, building permitting and code enforcement, parks and recreation programs, planning and zoning, and municipal finance including a 2.0% municipal income tax administered via RITA. Services are delivered in person at City Hall (47 Hall Street), through the CommunityCore online permitting portal, the city website (cityofpowell.us), phone, email, and public meetings.

Product overview

The City of Powell, Ohio operates a municipal government providing public services rather than commercial products. The city's digital offerings consist of government service portals and programs: CommunityCore serves as the online permitting system for building and trade permits; ClearGov hosts budget documents; ArcGIS-based tools enable address verification and community mapping; NextRequest manages public records requests; and Flock Safety provides license plate readers for police. The city also delivers parks and recreation programs, police services (including the Citizens Police Academy, alarm permits, fingerprinting, and special duty officer contracting), and manages long-range planning initiatives such as the Downtown Powell/Village Green Master Plan and Bennett Farm Park development. No commercial product portfolio exists as this is a municipal entity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Building and Trade Permits (via CommunityCore)
• Police Services (Alarm Permits, Fingerprinting, Bike Registration, Golf Cart Inspection, Vacation House Watch)
• Citizens Police Academy
• Special Duty Officer Services
• Parks and Recreation Programs
• Bennett Farm Park

Quantifiable outcome

• AAA bond rating maintained since 2013 (S&P)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration22 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CommunityCorecoreTechnology or IntegrationCommunityCore is the city's online permitting platform used for all residential, commercial, and trade permit submissions, fee payments, inspection scheduling, and permit status monitoring. It provides a single-account experience for residents and contractors.
• Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRITA collects the City of Powell's 2% municipal income tax. Residents can contact the central Ohio branch at 866.721.7482 or visit RITA's website for tax forms and filing assistance.
• Delaware County AuditorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Delaware County Auditor collects property taxes and other real estate data for all government entities in the county and distributes them semi-annually. The Auditor's website provides real estate valuation, tax rates, and special assessments for Powell properties.
• ZoneCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoneCo was selected by the city to evaluate the current zoning code and prepare a comprehensive new set of zoning regulations. The process includes assessment, community engagement, and draft code preparation, moving through the adoption process with public hearings.
• Pizzuti SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPizzuti Solutions is the project consultant for the Downtown Powell/Village Green Master Plan. The team includes Realm Collaborative, OHM Advisors, and Urban Decision Group. Phase 1 focused on current conditions; Phase 2 explores development concepts for the Village Green site. Process is a 3-year effort.
• MKSK StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMKSK (a collective of planners, urban designers, and landscape architects) is working with the city on the Parks Master Plan to update Powell's existing parks assets and evaluate potential uses for Bennett Farm. The process includes extensive public input.
• SSOE GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSOE serves as the city's Architectural Advisor, partnering with staff to update downtown design guidelines to align with the zoning code rewrite. The update will create architectural design standards to support revitalization and growth in Downtown Powell.
• Powell Development Corporation (Powell CIC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA five-member board of directors working to advance, encourage, and promote development in the City of Powell. Board members are appointed by City Council and serve two-year terms. Powell CIC meets on an on-call basis.
• Liberty Township Fire DepartmentcoreOthersThe city provides a reference link to Liberty Township Fire Department for fire and EMS services. Liberty Township provides fire protection and emergency medical services for Powell residents.
• Ohio CheckbookminorOthersOhio Checkbook (checkbook.ohio.gov) is a state transparency portal. The City of Powell participates by posting detailed city expenditure data online for public review, demonstrating fiscal transparency.
• Delaware County Sheriff's OfficeminorOthersMutual aid relationship with the Delaware County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement coverage and safety. DCSO patrols unincorporated areas, enforces laws, investigates crimes, services courts, and operates the county jail.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• City of Bexley, Ohio: Small, affluent Columbus suburb with comparable population size, walkable downtown focus, and Council/Manager governance structure similar to Powell's.
• City of Grove City, Ohio: Growing Columbus suburb with overlapping municipal service structure, comparable parks-and-recreation investment, and similar commercial development pipeline.
• City of Centerville, Ohio: Dayton-area suburb of similar population scale with AAA-style fiscal management, recognized parks system, and comparable community engagement programs.
• City of Mason, Ohio: Cincinnati-area suburb of comparable scale and AAA-style fiscal profile with a similar high-amenity, family-oriented municipal service model.

Direct peers

• City of New Albany, Ohio: Affluent Columbus suburb with comparable income-tax-funded services, planned community development, and a similar balance of residential livability and economic development focus.
• City of Dublin, Ohio: Suburban Columbus-area municipality in Delaware/Franklin counties with comparable population profile, AAA-style fiscal management, extensive parks system, and a high-income tax base — the most direct comparator for Powell's operating model.
• City of Upper Arlington, Ohio: Inner-ring Columbus suburb with strong credit ratings, comparable demographic profile, and similar high-touch municipal services including parks, recreation, and community engagement.
• City of Hilliard, Ohio: Suburban municipality of similar scale west of Columbus offering the same suite of municipal services with comparable residential and business tax base dynamics.
• City of Westerville, Ohio: Columbus suburb of similar scale serving residents and businesses via Council/Manager governance, with comparable parks-and-recreation, planning, and police service delivery models.
• City of Worthington, Ohio: Established Columbus suburb operating under Council/Manager governance with overlapping services, parks, and police operations — frequently benchmarked against Powell on livability metrics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user22424514
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityofPowell
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-powell-ohio
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityofpowelloh
• Xx.com/CityofPowellOH

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Powell, Ohio