MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously Nov. 25 to approve a 2026 spending plan totaling $19,700,000 and directed staff to file the disclosure with the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF).

Bob Swentz of the London Whitty Group told commissioners the spending-plan form was developed after the Legislature required the disclosure and legal counsel Barnes & Thornburg provided a template for uploading to the DLGF gateway. "It says that you'll spend $19,700,000 in the year 2026," Swentz said, adding the plan mirrors the commission's adopted budget and debt-service schedule. He also told the commission the spending plan must be uploaded to Gateway by Dec. 1 and that "there's no real penalty if you don't do it, but, at least everybody I know so far has been able to do it."

The presentation covered debt-service numbers and bond-fund allocations; Swentz said the form assembles that material for DLGF review. Commissioners asked no substantive questions before voting. Madam secretary conducted a roll call; Commissioners Shauna Haines Edwards, Leona Chandler Felton, Margaret Uselac, Keisha Hardaway and President Sean Peddle each voted in favor. The motion carried, 5-0.

Swentz also described a separate "impact of taxing units" report the commission prepares for other taxing units in its allocation areas (counties, schools, township trustees, special taxing districts). He said DLGF supplied no specific definition of "impact," and that in practice few representatives from impacted taxing units attend these presentations despite receiving notice. The commission did not take formal action on that report; staff indicated it would be provided as a courtesy to affected units.