Sellersburg — The Town of Sellersburg Council opened a public pre-adoption hearing on the 2026 budget on Oct. 14, presenting an estimate that town officials say increases total appropriations while the town’s certified tax rate submitted to the state is lower than 2025.

Clerk‑Treasurer Michelle Metcalf told residents that the figure the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) receives reflects changes in assessed value and not a rate increase. “It's minus 0.0018. Okay. So 2026 tax rate will actually be less than this year's tax rate,” Metcalf said, adding the net assessed value rose and that drives differences on the notices taxpayers receive.

Why it matters: The hearing drew sustained public comment about perceived higher household costs and service levels even as officials said the town is investing in infrastructure and equipment. Council members fielded questions about a proposed new trash truck, years of salary adjustments following a compensation study, and why some state and federal roads through town are not maintained by the town.

Officials, proposals and public comments

Metcalf walked through highlights: the general budget total rose by about $918,500 and, she said, roughly $400,000 of that increase is budgeted for a new trash truck so the town does not have to finance the purchase (which the town estimates will reduce financing costs by about $30,000 over the financing term). She emphasized that some line items listed on tax notices are funds that require appropriation but do not themselves create a tax rate; for example, the town’s so‑called “Christmas for kids” allocation is held and spent from donations, not property tax.

Resident Yvonne Andrews, 304 West Utica, registered an objection to the budget during public comment: “I'm just objecting the budget.” Other residents asked detailed questions about service quality, storm‑water and traffic on U.S. 31 and county roads that pass through town.

Police chief Charlie Whalen and Public Works Director Charlie Smith both addressed operational concerns raised by the public. Whalen noted enforcement workloads and said the department conducted about “2,400 traffic stops. 80 tickets. That's it,” to illustrate how many stops result in formal citations. Smith and other officials described the town’s approach to salary adjustments following a 2022–23 compensation study, saying longevity pay and market adjustments contributed to higher reported pay for some long‑tenured employees.

Taxes, rates and sanitation

Multiple residents expressed frustration that personal tax bills and trash rates felt higher even as officials point to road and sewer investments. Metcalf and others explained that Sellersburg’s tax rate submitted to DLGF is lower than 2025 because the townwide net assessed value increased; however, total budgets rose because the council is appropriating funds for capital items and service needs. Officials also explained the difference between municipal boundaries, postal ZIP codes and who controls particular roads: large sections of U.S. 31 and other corridors are state or county jurisdiction, not town roads.

On sanitation, staff said the town has run trash operations at a loss in recent years and raised the monthly trash service fee to stabilize operations and avoid contracting out the service at a potentially higher price. Officials said sanitation billing is a ratepayer fund separate from the general fund and that some revenue increases paid for an additional grapple truck and the operational changes that let the town avoid financing a replacement vehicle.

Council actions and votes at the meeting

Votes recorded at the meeting included routine agenda and minutes approvals and several substantive items reported here in full:

- CDL training reimbursement policy (motion): Council voted to adopt a policy under which the town will pay CDL training costs for qualifying new employees but require reimbursement if an employee voluntarily leaves or is terminated for cause within 24 months. Motion: moved by Matt; second by Randy; motion approved. (Policy implementation includes a written employee agreement specifying reimbursement terms.)

- Ivy Tech / US‑31 sewer relocation project — change orders: Two change orders for the sewer/utility relocation project connected with the US‑31/Ivy Tech work were presented and approved after staff recommendation. Change order 1 had net increases and credits that resulted in a net contract increase of $24,004.17. Change order 2 addressed additional jack‑and‑bore work and one extra manhole (for $63,269.44), producing a combined approved increase of $87,273.61. Council voted to approve both change orders (motion by Matt; second by Randy; motion approved).

Items taken under advisement or tabled

- Phone system replacement (town hall and billing office): staff presented a cloud‑based phone replacement quote (11 handsets; one‑time hardware/management/ship total $3,309.13; recurring monthly services quoted at $235.88) and asked to move forward; the council took the quote under advisement and tabled formal approval to the next meeting so staff can return with final numbers.

- AT&T station line replacements (sump/clerk/sewer alarm lines): staff presented an agreement template tied to ongoing land‑line conversions for sewer station dialers and asked to return with clearer per‑station pricing; council tabled the item for more detail.

What council directed staff to do

Council asked staff to return with final figures on the phone‑system subscription costs and to obtain specific AT&T pricing for each pump/telemetry station before authorizing the work. Staff also asked and received approval to finalize the CDL reimbursement policy language with the legal clarifications requested at the meeting.

Context and next steps

Town staff and council members reiterated that many infrastructure needs — water and sewer mains, road base repairs, and state projects such as the US‑31 rehabilitation — are large, multi‑year efforts that involve INDOT, county partners and federal funding. Town engineers and the contractor indicated projects under contract remain within the project contingency after the two approved change orders, and the contractor is standing by to begin work as soon as outstanding easements are obtained.

Council President Matt called the hearing and subsequent votes in a single evening; the budget remains in pre‑adoption status until the council returns with final certified figures from DLGF and any further amendments. Staff said the DLGF certification will determine the final rate and that the council will complete formal adoption after DLGF certification deeper in the fall.

Ending note: residents asked the council to continue holding forums and to provide clearer line‑item explanations on notices; council members said they will return with more detailed breakdowns and encourage residents to raise follow‑up questions with the clerk‑treasurer’s office.