Town Council approves petition to state for levy increase above maximum

The council unanimously approved a motion to authorize town staff to petition the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) for authority to increase the town levy above the maximum allowed under existing automatic growth calculations. Town Manager Chris Cook said the petition is needed because recent subdivision growth increased assessed value faster than levy growth and that the request is not guaranteed to be approved by DLGF.

Cook told the council the town had worked on the request with Baker Tilly and that the petition would ask DLGF for relief tied specifically to local growth. "There's no guarantee it would be granted, but, you know, it would be a request to be made," Cook said. After a motion and second, the council voted and the motion passed unanimously.

Council members also agreed to improve public access to proposed budget documents on the Clerk-Treasurer's web page to make the town's preliminary budget information easier for taxpayers to review before public hearings.

No specific levy increase amount was discussed or approved at the meeting; the vote authorized staff to file the petition with DLGF.