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Town of Wolcottville Wastewater Utility Rate Study

Town of Wolcottville Wastewater Utility Rate Study. Merger Study Plan Forum Center Grove High School Auditorium December 15, 2009. Jeffrey Peters, MPA, CPA Peters Municipal Consultants, P.C. {DRAFT}. Tax Impact on $150,000 Home. Officers per Shift.

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Town of Wolcottville Wastewater Utility Rate Study

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  1. Town of WolcottvilleWastewater Utility Rate Study Merger Study Plan Forum Center Grove High School Auditorium December 15, 2009 Jeffrey Peters, MPA, CPA Peters Municipal Consultants, P.C. {DRAFT}

  2. Tax Impact on $150,000 Home

  3. Officers per Shift • Johnson County Sheriff’s Office currently schedules 7 deputies per shift to police White River Township • Sheriff’s Office operates on 2 -12 hour shifts per day • 168 man hours per 24 hour period • Greenwood Police Department would be able to schedule an average of 4 officers per shift to police White River Township* • Greenwood PD operates on 3 – 8 hour shifts per day • 96 man hours per 24 hour period *Number was calculated by applying Greenwood PD’s current work schedule of 5 days on-duty and 2 days off-duty followed by 5 days on-duty and 3 days off-duty to the proposed hiring of 17 additional officers upon merger

  4. “Efficiency”….. • Reorganization Committee claims to reduce property taxes by 11%, from $0.36/$100 of assessed value to $0.32. • Actually, it is an approximate increase of 27% for White River Township residents • 11% reduction only applies to “Old” Greenwood residents because the projected expenses would be taxed to all of “New” Greenwood residents

  5. Results of Underestimated Budget • Tax increases, both property and income, are actively pursued • Fees are increased to alleviate General Fund shortfalls (i.e. storm water and sewage) • Services are not adequately provided

  6. Johnson County Tax Rate • Reorganization Committee stated that a county tax rate reduction is likely • FACT – Potential County tax increase with referendum in May 2010 to expand County Jail with approximately $23 million • Reorganization Committee represented that County tax reductions are implemented by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) • FACT – DLGF’s role in budget approval process is to ensure the estimated budget expenditures can be funded with advertised property tax levies. Property tax reductions must be initiated by the County and then approved by the DLGF

  7. Fire Protection • White River and Bargersville Fire Protection Districts are their own taxing units • New Greenwood would have NO governing control over these Fire Departments • Reorganization Committee and New Greenwood would NOT have the authority to transform all Departments into a single department • Reorganization Committee cannot guarantee this sort of control as it has previously claimed

  8. Property Tax Caps and Your Loss • Due to the Property Tax Cap of 1% passed in 2008, current Greenwood has anticipated tax cap loss of $532,000 annually* • This loss of property tax revenue will be spread across New Greenwood and WRT residents will help make up this loss • Thus, driving WRT towards the tax cap of 1% and pulling tax money away from Center Grove Schools, public library, fire protection, etc. *Anticipated tax cap loss was calculated by Indiana Legislative Services Agency (LSA)

  9. Property Tax Rate Breakdown

  10. Ulterior Motive? • FACT – Reorganization Committee Chairman stated that Greenwood does not need the White River tax base and this merger is about vision 5-15 years from now • FACT –TheChairman also stated concerns that delaying the merger process might allow Bargersville to annex more of unincorporated White River Township • FACT –Reorganization Committee pushed for Greenwood to file suit against Bargersville’s annexation of the southern portion of White River Township • FACT – Greenwood Mayor was quoted as saying “…its basically a process of one municipality getting that unincorporated land” • YOU DECIDE – Is this truly about “vision” or is the City of Greenwood attempting to protect their future borders and commercial corridors from Bargersville?

  11. Things to Consider • Does the City of Greenwood provide services that I desire at a cost I am willing to pay? • Significantly less police protection than Sheriff currently provides • Police coverage fails in comparison to comparable cities and DOJ standards • Tax and fee increase ~ 27% to begin • Has Greenwood’s management spent my money wisely in the past? • Spent $5 million on sewage extension with no way to recoup the investment • Spending more sewage fees on appeals and lawsuits even though rate increase is needed to cover present shortfalls • Spending sewage fees on lawsuit to prevent my neighbors from voluntarily becoming part of Bargersville

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