Hancock County commissioners schedule April 28 hearing after staff flags Port Authority bond financing for Liberty Township project

Phil Johnson, a county staff member who joined a recent conference call about the Liberty Township project, told the Hancock County commissioners on April 23 that, based on his review, bond financing routed through the Port Authority would not count toward the county's statutory debt ceiling. Commissioner Jeff Hunker announced a public hearing on the project for April 28, 2026, to allow formal consideration and public input.

Why it matters: If the Port Authority issues bonds for the Liberty Township project and those bonds are not counted as county debt, the financing could proceed without altering the county's current debt metrics; however, county officials said they want bond counsel to confirm the legal treatment before any final approvals.

Cindy Land and Charity Rauschenberg, the county auditor, both urged caution and recommended the county obtain a formal opinion from its bond counsel. "It is important to spend time diligently looking at the details of the transaction to protect the County," Auditor Charity Rauschenberg said during the meeting. Commissioners agreed staff should reach out to bond counsel and present any guidance at the April 28 hearing.

The commissioners characterized themselves as the legal authority on the matter and scheduled the hearing to give the public and the Board an opportunity to review the financing structure and associated documentation. No formal vote on the Liberty Township financing occurred at the April 23 meeting; the Board instead prepared to receive counsel and public comment at the April 28 session.

Next steps: Staff will contact the county's bond counsel and provide any findings at the April 28 public hearing. The Board will consider counsel's advice and public input before taking a formal vote or approving financing documents.