La Porte Redevelopment Commission approves encumbrances and TIF year‑end transfers

The La Porte Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 19 to approve a set of year‑end encumbrances and transfers intended to hold funds for ongoing projects and to close out the fiscal year.

In a staff presentation, Mr. Phillips described the encumbrances the commission was being asked to hold for 2026. He told commissioners the packet listed remaining contract balances including $9,900 for Versus Engineering on the Hohlacher Drive historic bridge project and $9,195 for Hitchcock Design for the downtown decorative alleys project. He said redevelopment TIF 1 encumbrances totaled $131,095 and redevelopment TIF 2 encumbrances totaled $80,000, the latter including $50,000 remaining for United Consulting for North‑South Corridor design services and $30,000 for Rundell Ernsperger Associates related to the city’s comprehensive plan and transportation work.

"At the back of your packets, you should have a memo that's drafted that outlines the encumbrances that we're requesting for, holding money over for next year," Mr. Phillips said during his presentation.

On transfers, Mr. Phillips recommended moving $372,000 from a TIF 2 infrastructure line (line item 421) to cover professional services and encumbrances. He said $212,000 of that amount would be applied to TIF 1 professional services to cover the encumbrances and anticipated legal and financial expenses through the end of the year. He also described a $60,000 infrastructure allocation to cover a claims payment to Pavey Excavating for sewer extension work in Newport Landing and additional transfers to cover professional services.

"So from TIF 2, we would be requesting a total transfer from the infrastructure line item 421 of $372,000," Mr. Phillips said. "...and to transfer that money to TIF 1, dollars 212,000 for professional services, all related to those encumbrances that I mentioned."

Commissioners moved and seconded the two separate motions to approve the encumbrances and the transfers; both motions passed by voice vote recorded as 5‑0. The meeting minutes show no recorded dissents or abstentions.

What happens next

Staff will forward the approved encumbrances to the Clerk‑Treasurer’s Office for processing and will implement the authorized year‑end transfers to ensure adequate balances for the encumbered contracts and for anticipated legal and financial costs. The commission did not set additional reporting deadlines during the meeting.