Schererville council approves CCDF reestablishment, salary updates and project agreements; defers resolution on state property-tax cuts

Schererville — The Town Council approved several budget and project actions at its March 12 meeting and deferred a proposed resolution opposing state-level property-tax reductions until next month.

The council voted 4-0 to reestablish the town's cumulative capital development fund (CCDF) at a nickel per $100 of assessed value by adopting Ordinance 20-21. Clerk-Treasurer Michael Troxell told the council that, if adopted, a notice must be published in two newspapers and that a 30-day remonstration period would follow; "signatures from at least 25 taxpayers are required for a valid objection," Troxell said.

The council also adopted amendments to the 2025 salary ordinance (Ordinance 20-13b), adding pay lines for clerical staff in the fire department and compensation for positions created for the town's newly formed merit board, including the merit-board attorney and recording secretary. The ordinance passed on a 4-0 voice vote.

On capital projects, the council approved Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with DLZ Indiana LLC for Kennedy Avenue improvements. Andy Hansen, director of operations, said that while some task fees increased during the project, reductions in right-of-way work and other efficiencies lowered the overall contract amount. "The project fee overall decreased, so the total compensation to be paid the DLZ, as outlined in the original agreement, will reduce from 2,060,265 to $1,889,824.24 or a decrease of $170,440.76," Hansen said. The council approved the supplemental agreement 4-0.

The council ratified an interlocal agreement with the City of Crown Point concerning water and sewer regulatory territories. That agreement, previously on the utility board agenda, was accepted by the council on a 4-0 vote.

The council approved an annual contribution to the Tri-Town Safety Village of $36,400 (shared with neighboring towns) and accepted $3,973.25 in donations and in-kind gifts to town departments; both items passed 4-0.

Council members discussed a proposed Resolution 2025-3, which would have formally opposed proposed state property-tax reductions that council staff said could reduce municipal revenue. The resolution was introduced but initially received no second and therefore no action. Later, a motion to deny the resolution passed on an apparent 2-2 roll call (Councilman Caleb Johnson and Councilman Kevin Conley voted to deny; Councilman Tom Schmidt and Councilman Rod Getzloff voted no); Clerk-Treasurer Troxell declined to cast the tie-breaking vote and the matter was deferred for consideration at the next meeting.

Public comment on the resolution included a resident who said the measure was "rather vague" and asked for specifics on how much revenue the town could lose under the proposed state changes.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 20-21 (reestablish CCDF at $0.05 per $100 assessed value): motion/second recorded; outcome: adopted, vote 4-0. - Ordinance 20-13b (2025 salary ordinance amendments): adopted, vote 4-0. - Supplemental Agreement No. 2 (DLZ Indiana LLC; Kennedy Ave. improvements): approved, vote 4-0; contract reduced from $2,060,265 to $1,889,824.24 (decrease $170,440.76). - Interlocal agreement with City of Crown Point (water/sewer regulatory territories): approved, vote 4-0. - Tri-Town Safety Village annual contribution: approved, vote 4-0 ($36,400). - Donations and in-kind gifts (February): accepted, vote 4-0 (total $3,973.25). - Resolution 2025-3 (opposing state property-tax cuts): introduced; initial motion had no second; later motions produced a 2-2 tie on a motion to deny and the Clerk-Treasurer declined to vote; outcome: deferred to next month.

The council's actions will be reflected in town records; the CCDF adoption will trigger the remonstration window described by Troxell, after which petitioners may request a special hearing if they collect the required 25 signatures during the 30-day period.

The meeting record shows the votes listed above and that several items were approved unanimously; the property-tax resolution will return to the agenda for further consideration next month.