Committee recommits Cumberland excluded‑city bill to tax and fiscal after unanimous support

The Senate Local Government Committee voted 8-0 to recommit House Bill 11:31 to the Tax and Fiscal committee after hearing testimony from sponsors and local officials about a long-running effort by the town of Cumberland to become an excluded city for the portion of the town located in Marion County.

Representatives and local officials described Cumberland as an atypical community: the town has grown from about 500 residents in 1970 to roughly 6,500 today and expects another 3,000 residents in the next five years. The town spans two counties — Hancock and Marion — and officials said it already carries responsibility for many municipal services, including streets, lighting, storm and sewer management, police, parks and code enforcement on its Hancock County side and some services in Marion County.

Representative Miller, who led the sponsorship effort in the House, told the committee that the town had engaged in “an immense amount of collaboration” with the city of Indianapolis and Hancock County leadership and that the legislation aims to let the town “control their own destiny” for planning and local permitting. Ben Lips, Cumberland’s town manager, said the town already provides many services and that residents pay both the town and consolidated-city rates now; Lips said the proposed change could eliminate redundant consolidated-city charges except for agreed fire and debt-service arrangements.

Witnesses noted a $19.43 series bond tied to the town’s fire district and said the bill includes provisions to address debt service and DLGF adjustments to levies and rates to avoid unexpected tax changes. Hancock County commissioners submitted written support and Rhonda Cook testified that the commissioners back the town’s petition after a joint meeting and legislative review.

Committee members asked whether the bill applied only to the Marion County portion of Cumberland — senators were told that the legislation is narrowly tailored to the Marion County portion and that the Hancock County portion is not seeking the same excluded‑city treatment. Senator Taylor and others said they would review the financial details before taking a floor vote but supported moving the bill forward; the committee voted to recommit the bill to tax and fiscal by an 8-0 vote.

The recommitment to tax and fiscal preserves the bill’s progress while allowing additional review of levy/transfer and debt-service arrangements before final floor action.