Consultant: Senate Enrolled Act 1 will cut St. John park property-tax revenue by about $50,000 in 2026

At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Town of Saint John Parks and Recreation Board heard from Amber Nielsen of Baker Tilly, who told the board the town'wide shift from Senate Enrolled Act 1 will raise estimated property-tax circuit-breaker losses to just over $1 million and reduce the park fund's 2026 net levy by about $50,000.

Nielsen, a financial adviser with Baker Tilly, said the act "completely changes the property tax system in Indiana" and that its changes will begin phasing in in 2026. She told the board the park operating fund is expected to receive about 6% of the townwide increase in circuit-breaker losses; Baker Tilly's draft estimate shows the park's gross levy rising to about $492,000 in 2026 and an estimated $65,000 loss from circuit breakers that would bring the park's net levy to about $426,000.

The presentation…