The Board of Public Works and Safety on July 24 approved contract number 1132025, authorizing HWC Engineering to produce public engagement and education materials related to a possible food and beverage tax.
Beth Fields, director of strategic initiatives, presented the request on behalf of the mayor’s office and said the materials are intended to explain options for funding city projects, particularly in parks. Fields told the board that "the Indiana state legislature has given us the ability to enact a food and beverage tax should we decide to do that," and that the materials will help the city "educate the public on what that could look like, how that funding could be used so that we can have some discussions and dialogue as to whether or not to move forward with that project."
The contract was described as a lump-sum agreement not to exceed $11,000. A board member asked whether any action or referendum would occur in November; the presenter replied that timing would be part of subsequent discussions. The board approved the contract by voice vote.
The contract authorizes production of outreach and education materials; the transcript does not specify a timeline or the detailed contents of those materials.