Whitestown redevelopment commissioners review TIF districts, approve officer slate and routine claims

The Whitestown Redevelopment Commission reviewed its statutory powers and the town's tax-increment financing (TIF) finances and approved a slate of officers at its Jan. 23 meeting at Whitestown Town Hall.

The commission heard an overview of its roles and authorities and a financial update on existing TIF districts and debt from Steve, a staff member; Nathan Fox of Cronin Associates, the commission's financial advisor; and Todd Carlisle, deputy clerk treasurer for the Town of Whitestown. After the presentations the commission voted 4-0 to elect officers and approved routine minutes and claims.

The overview emphasized the commission's statutory role as the municipality's economic-development arm. "You are a statutory body," Steve said, distributing a summary of the commission's annual reporting obligations and describing the commission's powers, including acquiring, improving and selling property for economic-development purposes and establishing economic development areas (EDAs), commonly called TIF districts. He cited the applicable statutory framework during his remarks.

Nathan Fox presented two documents: an updated TIF spending plan with 2024 actuals and a synopsis of outstanding debt paid with TIF revenue. Fox said the commission had built cash reserves through 2023–24 but spent a substantial portion in 2024 on projects tied to Perry Industrial and Anson South, including a maintenance/salt barn. "As of March 31, 2025, it's projected you'll have just over $8,000,000 in cash," Fox said, noting that substantial debt-service payments were due in January and February and that most TIF revenue is collected in June and December settlements. He said the June 2025 settlement from Perry Industrial and Anson South would bring "about $5,000,000" in aggregate, with some of that flow already pledged for debt service.

Todd Carlisle described the recent maintenance/salt barn project, which consolidated water, streets and fleet maintenance functions into one facility near the wastewater treatment plant. "That building was funded by the TIF proceeds," Carlisle said; he noted construction is complete but staff have not moved in because a gas line extension for heat is still pending.

Commission members asked questions about TIF structure and options. Steve explained that a single EDA may include separate allocation areas for different projects and that overlapping TIF districts are generally not used within the town, though allocation areas can be nested. The commission also discussed statutory options for making funds available to overlapping taxing units, including a limited statute that allows money to be made available to schools for specified purposes.

Fox reminded commissioners that timing matters: TIF receipts are not monthly and cash available on hand may be consumed by near-term debt service. He noted that some TIF areas (Maple Grove, Legacy and others) are beginning to produce more increment, while newer areas have limited excess cash at present.

After the briefing the commission conducted elections and routine business. A nomination to elect Mark Pasquerella as president, Adam Hess as vice president and Todd Carlisle as secretary carried by voice vote. The commission also approved minutes from Nov. 4, 2024, and approved legal claims for services rendered. The meeting adjourned after those votes.

The commission asked staff to schedule a site tour of the new maintenance/salt barn and the Sibley building so members can inspect RDC-owned assets once logistics allow. Staff also said the town can issue official at-whitestown.in.gov email addresses for commission members and that IT staff will coordinate setup at the February meeting.