Whitestown RDC adopts broad 2026 TIF spending plan ahead of Dec. 1 Gateway filing

The Whitestown Redevelopment Commission on Nov. 3 unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-18, approving the commission’s 2026 tax-increment financing (TIF) spending plan and directing staff to upload the plan to Gateway (the DLGF portal) before the Dec. 1 deadline.

Todd (staff) described the spending plan as “the anticipated budget of the RDC of the TIF funds,” laying out opening cash balances and projected uses by TIF area. He said the plan reflects best estimates of the 2026 tax rate, which will be finalized in January, and noted that one taxpayer agreement (Patch) pays the bond trustee directly and therefore does not appear as an outflow in the spending plan.

Jim Treat of Cronin and Associates, appearing by remote connection, advised the commission to keep the spending plan broad. “Be very broad, cover everything you can, and it just minimizes the changes you gotta go back,” Treat said. He added that debt-service figures are broken down by TIF area and bond issue and that capital outlays would include road projects, professional services and any special incentives the commission approves.

The plan lists roughly $14,000,000 in expected debt service and about $2,000,000 in potential capital outlay; staff said capital projects still require separate commission approval before funds are expended. The commission asked clarifying questions about revenue timing and taxpayer agreements; staff confirmed the document shows the commission’s best anticipated estimates.

Commissioner Kevin Russell moved to approve Resolution 2025-18; the motion carried unanimously. Nathan (staff) confirmed the plan would be filed on Gateway before Dec. 1.

The spending-plan process is a statutory filing requirement with the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF); the resolution does not itself authorize individual projects or expenditures, which the commission said will return for separate approvals.