As we all know, there is a lot of planning on New Albany's agenda. The Lopp project in the west end, the New Horizons project downtown, the expansion of the Greenway and the Loop Islands.
All of this is very exciting but we are forgetting one important part of New Albany's demographic, our youth. The current Youth Shelter on Grantline Rd. is still falling down and nobody is doing anything about it. It seems that eveybody is caught up in all of these shining new buildings and thinking about how that will increase their property value and make New Albany a more viable place to live. This is all true but our most vunerable children still live in squalor. The space currently occupied by the City-County Building is needed to expand the jail. Maybe if we help our children while they are still children we would not need so much space to house adult offenders. The Commissioners and the County Council really need to revisit this issue.
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Shirley, I agree wholeheartedly.
The first step in helping local youth was getting the YMCA downtown instead of at Charlestown Rd. as was originally proposed. Charlestown Rd. kids can drive downtown while fewer downtown kids can drive to Charlestown Rd.
We equally need to make sure that future youth services are accessible to the youth intended to be served.
Shirley,
Excellent post indeed!
While there is a need for a place to shleter troubled youth, falling somewhere between foster care and the clark county juvenile detention center, there is more of a need for pre-juvenile delinquency programs to target at risk youth and help to foster in these kids a sense of belonging and self respect.
second to that is something for the kids to do, a place to go, to gather and to socialize. Admittedly there would be fights, and other such issues, but that is an unmistakable, unavoidable part of growing up and learning conflict resolution.
But transversely, I do think that improving the infrastructure of the city and its amenities is key to tackling the issue of juvenile delinquency and recidivism. Better infrastructure leads to better job opportunities for the kids, as well as their parents, increasing the sucess of the family, and with increased family sucess (not just monetary) comes better education, less crime, increased property values, etc.
While for the most part, I agree this is an issue that is placed on the very back burner, it is also an issue that is directly tied into the bigger picture.
Thank you for your kind comments.
I also believe we need to support people such as LeeAnn Wiseheart and Rebecca Gardenour who give countless hours of their time and even treasure to support and mentor our children and teens through their S.U.R.F. bored organization.
If I had the money I would find a building for them to meet as well as a place for the new youth shelter, somewhere with a safe outside space so they could enjoy the weather.
All of this is well and good. But would someone explain how the City of New Albany is going to pay for all of these projects. Please DO NOT say, you have to spend money to make money, because that's the Obama way. Now look at the mess our country is in.
This project with Lopp has been in the making since week two England became mayor. Everyone wants this and that, which goes right back to the theory, it's our money not the Commissioners, Redevelopment, Mayor, Police Officers, Sewer Board, and etc.
The bottom line is this, people are NOT going to shop downtown. It's a fact. Drive by Walmart any day, anytime, and the place is packed. Citizens have lost at least 40% of their 401K's if not all of it. Our property value has declined, but our property taxes go up.
The police say they need 10 new police officer, and 8 new cars, but they are threatening to lay off fireman, close down an ambulance and a firehouse. The city has NO leadership. They run the wheels off our cars, their spotted everywhere. Arnie's was robbed a few month's ago, and there was a police officer there. ummmm. My self, I can protect myself, but if my house catches on fire, I want them to put the fire out. When some one has the guts to say: renogiate all these contracts, stop selective enforcement in all manners are city is doomed. They threaten to lay off, and play the safety card. That Shit get's old in hearing. They have money for everything the mayor wants to spend but wait and see what happens after they have spent this money, DLGF will cut the budget, the State will give New Albany less, so the only option is to raise our taxes. Does No one realize that every tax abatement, every misappropriation, and everything else spent passed the approve budget affects our property tax rate?
Your right Shirley, what happen to the Youth Shelter? That has been on the drawing board for at least seven years. Wouldn't that be great if Floyd Memorial paid the $9 million they owe Floyd County? I say, sell the friggin hospital, cut our losses and use that money for a new Youth Center. We own all that land by the old youth center.
There has been one federal lawsuit served on Mills about over crowding and I understand there will be another one.
Think about this 83% of our General Fund is police and fire. that leave 17 cents on every tax dollar we pay twice a year gors to them. How can the city maintain service, and continue to raise fees. Don't think for one minute it ain't going to happen, because it is. Then what? It's so easy for someone else to spend our money and think they have the answers. Guess what? They don't. Why should my tax money go to a $40 million project to give them sewers, and stormwater pipes when my neighbors house floods because they won't fix the lift stations and etc. Why? Because the city does not have $3.5 million to pay for repairs, but they can force us taxpayers to put in new sewers and pipes for downtown.
They forget a very inportant issue. EPA is sick and tired of the way business is done here in New Albany. Why should I support a $20 million dollar new City Hall? There are oodles of empty buildings, why is it, they never seem to understand a need verses a want. Whose going to bail taxpayers out?
People forget, this is our town to!
Concern Citizen
You're joking, right? The same two leaders of the Resources for whatever who wanted to close neighborhood schools?
Right.
'I also believe we need to support people such as LeeAnn Wiseheart and Rebecca Gardenour who give countless hours of their time and even treasure to support and mentor our children and teens through their S.U.R.F. bored organization.'
Now that makes a lot more sense concern taxpayer.
The bottom line is this, people are NOT going to shop downtown. It's a fact.
Again, show us the proof. Cities all over this nation are seeing revivals of their urban cores. Why will New Albany forever and always be an exception to this national trend?
Rents are up downtown. Property values are up downtown. There are far more business and business customers downtown than ever before.
Show us the stone in which this "fact" is written.
Anon 6:14 PM, you make a good point.
Concerned Taxpayer.
Again, why do you keep using the "$20 million dollar" city hall figure? Twenty million is as realistic a number as $2 million is for two way on Spring. Those figures both include far, far, far more than just a city hall or just two way. You sound very, very confused.
I propose an anonymous blogger tax. Funds generated will be used to educate all the people on here who cannot use correct grammar and who cannot do simple math.
I can say this for the School Board, at least they know how to live within a budget, and balance a budget.
I say, vote for Rebecca Gardenour for Mayor.
You can fill up those empty building downtown all you want, but that doesn't mean they will last in business downtown. They tried it for what -- 30 years now and it's never happening. Wake up Baylor, the action is out on Charlestown Road not downtown. Got your tax abatement yet?
Have you hugged your mayor today? $50,000 at a low interest rate, that ought to get him a few free pints.
Those School Board members could sure teach the council a few things.
I propose a pint tax, and every business downtown pay a $50,000"waste my tax dollar tax."
I'd pay Gardenour's campaign cost if she ran again, Messer, Scharlow, Marcy, Malysz and any other democrat for mayor, hell in fact I'd SWITCH PARTIES for that to happen.
She's got my vote too.
Greenway Project - City needs matching funds.
Loop Island - They need $700,000 to clean up the place.
New Horizons Project - Whose going to pay for their infrastructure?
Lopp Project - There are other avenues beside his project.
Who will pay for all of this?
Concerned taxpayer,
you know if no matter what the subject is, you manage to find something to bitch about regarding every single public office, if you are that unhappy here, why not pack your bags and move out?
"Concerned taxpayer,
you know if no matter what the subject is, you manage to find something to bitch about regarding every single public office, if you are that unhappy here, why not pack your bags and move out?"
Ditto!
By the way, I beleive Roger is in Europe right now. Just because someone disagrees with investment by the city, that doesn't mean that someone is Roger Baylor.
"New Horizons Project - Whose going to pay for their infrastructure?"
You sound pretty confident that it will be the city. Have they asked the City for a penny? What about TIF? Besides, how much new infrastructure do they need? There’s already a street and sewer line in front of the place.
How much new infrastructure are they going to need? Less than any new construction anywhere on Charlestown Road, that’s how much they’ll need!
If they build a $40 million new building, that's close to $1 million in new property tax revenue each year. I'll take that!
I think someone’s just jealous that someone else is accomplishing something.
"...the action is out on Charlestown Road not downtown. Got your tax abatement yet?”
A tax abatement is a lot cheaper than building new infrastructure in cornfields. We have roads in the city. If government wants to save money, government should help ensure that people use the roads and sewer lines we have instead of building more and more new roads and sewer lines farther and farther out.
I am a concerned New Albany taxpayer and I am willing to pay $100-$200 more in taxes each year if it means better government services and better infrastructure.
Just like with everything else, you get what you pay for and sometimes it's worth paying for quality. Right now we're paying for Steve Price but I prefer something/someone that actually does the job right.
The message "put the infrastructure IN THE CITY and REPAIR WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE IN THE CITY" is the message DOWNTOWN is NOT receiving. ALL of the buildings now going empty; it is a sin, nothing but a sin.
If you think of Redevelopment and extended sewer lines out Charlestown Road and Developers (unnamed and unmentioned), well, something tells me someone will figure it out. Hopefully sooner than later?
If someone stands up and says, “Cigarettes are safe,” I view that one way if the speaker is a medical researcher and another way if the speaker is a tobacco company executive.
Similarly, if someone says “England is Corrupt,” I view that one way if the speaker is planning on running against England in the next election and another way if the speaker is an unbiased observer.
So who keeps posting the England is corrupt? Are they like the researcher? Or are they like the tobacco executive? We don’t know their motives but I suspect it’s not about fighting corruption.
I'd pay Gardenour's campaign cost if she ran again, Messer, Scharlow, Marcy, Malysz and any other democrat for mayor, hell in fact I'd SWITCH PARTIES for that to happen.
This means nothing since we don't know who you are. Are you switching from Nazi Party to the Whig Party? How the heck should we know?
Before we focus on educating our youth, we need to make sure Steve Price can read and write. Hiring that many tutors will require a bond issue.
Greenway Project - City needs matching funds.Yes, but we’re getting a heck of a deal with all the state and federal match. That extra $3.6 million the feds threw in a few weeks ago will go to some good paying jobs. Besides, the project’s not going anywhere; if we have to put it on hold for a year or two while we wait for the money to come in, so what? Louisville has gotten 100 year of enjoyment out of their Olmstead parks. It’s about time we have a park that will give NA 100 years of enjoyment.
Loop Island - They need $700,000 to clean up the place. I’ve not see this $700,000 figure. Is this as real a number as the new supposedly $40 or $20 of whatever million dollar city hall? Besides, have they asked the city for any money?
Lopp Project - There are other avenues beside his project.How much do we pay to rent the city county building each year? $150,000 or so? Maybe we can lease a new joint for about the same cost? Besides, the city needs more space. I’ve not heard any type of commitment from the city anyhow. Last I heard they were looking at several locations several blocks over.
11:14, so you are willing to pay more? $100 to $200 more on property taxes, you say for better service. 83% our general fund goes to Police and Fire. That leaves us 17 cents on the dollar for service. In a city of around 36,000 people we do not, and I repeat: DO NOT need a Deputy Mayor and a City Operations manager. We are not Louisville and never will be. We are NOT getting the service we pay for now. Everyone in this administration is looking out for themselves and what's in it for them. If I am wrong, why don't they do a referendum and just see what the taxpayers want.
$150,000 is for maintance and salaries. So tell me, we won't be paying that same amount where ever the new City Hall is. Get a life, and deal with facts.
One man [England] who was elected to represent "We, the People" but who now seems to be representing his own special interests.
An abuse of power that is the direct result of spending too much time behind closed doors, in secret meetings, glad-handing and back slapping with New Horizons and Lopp, and conspiring to find any means possible to get the most taxpayers money for personal gain.
Maybe if our Mayor had been spending just a fraction of that amount of time listening to We, the People, he would have a better grasp of what the honorable, democratic, and law abiding process should be in these matters.
But England has lost sight of what is right instead of playing politics and thumbing his nose at the taxpayers.
Isn't there more important things our hard earned tax money can go to????
If England brings anything to the council, it has to do with, you got it -- taxpayer money.
Legal beagle
An abuse of power that is the direct result of spending too much time behind closed doors, in secret meetings, glad-handing and back slapping with New Horizons and Lopp, and conspiring to find any means possible to get the most taxpayers money for personal gain.
We have heard this before.
We have not yet seen the proof.
When will we see proof?
Proof!
Proof?
Proof!
I see none.
Period.
Excuse me 11:07, but I am quite sure they are planning for their very own tax abatement. Sell it to someone else, we are not buying your crap.
Have you hugged your favorite mayor today?
Maybe if our Mayor had been spending just a fraction of that amount of time listening to We, the People, he would have a better grasp of what the honorable, democratic, and law abiding process should be in these matters.
Just because our Mayor doesn’t jump when one of his 37,000 constituents (and a nutty one at that) says jump, that doesn’t mean he’s corrupt.
A lot of people in this community want real progress.
Mr. 5:14, you want proof? Ask Councilman Gonder how many secret meetings he has been to, at the mayor's home?
We have it on tape.
Next question...
Excuse me 11:07, but I am quite sure they are planning for their very own tax abatement. Sell it to someone else, we are not buying your crap."
Are you just anti-abatement?
We're not making any revenue from a $40 million building that's not there.
Let them build it and get a few years tax free. We're not making revenue now so we won't be missing anything.
When the abatement period is over, the dollars will be rolling in.
That's how development works.
It's not like the city has to write out a check.
Only liberals, Englands to busy complaining about his back or getting drunk. As they say progress my a**, it's called kickbacks.
Deputy Dog
We have it on tape.Show us your tape!
Does it really exist? You cross your anonymous heart and hope to dye, stick a needle in your eye?
If it exists, there’s nothing wrong with a councilman meeting with the mayor. No laws are violated if they meet one on one.
What, are you saying Gonder has veto power over the other council members?
Suppose for a second that Gonder and England did actually hatch a diabolical, evil plan. One councilman doesn’t make a majority. Only majority vote counts on the city council.
Get with the program Factless.
it's called kickbacks.
Show me the proof, Deputy Slander.
$150,000 is for maintance and salaries. So tell me, we won't be paying that same amount where ever the new City Hall is. Get a life, and deal with facts.
So you're saying the city does not pay rent for its space on the third floor? Now I think you need to deal with the facts.
What are you smoking 5:20?
When the abatement period is over, the dollars will be rolling in.
Wrong!
They apply for another abatement, you "uneducated" jackass.
In due time, Mr. Defend the Mayor and Gonder.
Please read IC 6-1.1-12.1
Tax abatements cannot be renewed.
Tax Abatements begin to phase out starting the second year the property is placed in serve.
Not all of the New Horizons development will qualify for abatement due to limitations on types of businesses eligible for abatement.
Besides, even if it were 100% abated for 1000 years, an abatement does not cost the city money. We won’t write a check for abatements.
Where is the conspiracy? I want investment and jobs and places to shop downtown. Why is this bad?
In due time....
You mean you don't have the video yet.
What are you smoking 5:20?
I don't smoke. Instead, right now I am enjoying one of New Albanian Brewing Co.’s quality craft beers at one of New Albany's finest downtown establishments. Oh what a beautiful day!
Deliciously and Forever,
5:20
6:19, you say it is not costing the city nothing? You are totally wrong. It's costing revenue and it also cost us taxayers. Our property taxes go up based on tax abatements, and the outrage's spending this administration is doing. Steve Price is the only one who makes sense.
Property taxes DO NOT go up because of abatements. Learn what you are writing about for a change.
Jeeez
Actually, property taxes start to go down for everyone else because the budget is more or less static while there are more payers paying into the budget fund. The same sized pie is cut into smaller and smaller slices each property owner must eat.
This is magnified with commercial property since commercial property is taxed at a much higher rate than owner occupied property. The more commercial property you have in New Albany, the less each individual homeowner has to pay. Rates can be lowered because assessments are higher.
Development of new commercial real estate in New Albany LOWERS property taxes for homeowners.
Why does Steve Price want to keep my taxes high? Give the guys an abatement. Let them pay more in taxes so I can pay less!
Concerned Taxpayer.
Mr. Iamhoosier,
I think you need to check your facts. Give Mr. Charles W. Pride a phone call at 317-232-2521 he will enlighten you tremendously.
Good grief, no wonder you progressives have NO clues about tax abatements!
I don't have to call anybody. You are so wrong. I pay taxes, too.
An abatement is given on something NEW. NEW means it wasn't in the tax base to start with.(it was not there--it's NEW). Actually, IMO, abatement is a somewhat misleading term. It is a phasing in of the property taxes on something NEW--say 10% per year for 10 years or 20% per year for five years. That's the basics of how it works.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Why don't we just open nothing but bars downtown. That surely should keep the police busy, maybe make them earn their money for once.
Mr. Iamhoosier,
Your wrong, they paid property taxes on the land!
Duhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
Read the Indiana Code section cited above. It clearly states that abatements apply to new IMPROVEMENTS only. It also clearly states that the land cannot be abated.
IAH is correct. If you have land, and you build something on the land, and you have an abatement in place, the firt year you pay taxes on the land (the same you were paying before). The next year you pay taxes on the land PLUS about 15% of the assessment of the improvements (percentages vary depending on what type of abatemnet program you use).
Can Steve Price please give me an example of ONE abatement project in New Albany where the property owner stopped paying taxes on the land?
Again, I am a homeowner. Why should I bare all the burden of the taxes? Help people build new buildings in New Albany and left my tax burden shift a little bit each year to those new developments.
Yeah, right. 2 + 2 = 5 in your book. Just what part of new don't you get. It's called increased valuation.
You know, I've been waiting years for all this "proof" to be shown. The old SOLNA blog always had these same people claiming they had all these facts, pictures, documents, etc and that very soon "we would see all these officials going to jail."
Hogwash. I haven't seen any of it and neither has anyone else. Put up or shut up.
IC 6-1.1-12.1-1
Definitions
Sec. 1. For purposes of this chapter:
(4) "Property" means a building or structure, but does not include land.IC 6-1.1-12.1-4
Annual deduction; amount; percentage; period of deduction; effect of reassessment
Sec. 4. (a) ….the amount of the deduction which the property owner is entitled to receive under section 3 of this chapter for a particular year equals the product of:
(1) the increase in the assessed value resulting from the rehabilitation or redevelopment; multiplied by
(2) the percentage prescribed in the table set forth in subsection (d).
d) The percentage to be used in calculating the deduction under subsection (a) is as follows:
(1) For deductions allowed over a one (1) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
(2) For deductions allowed over a two (2) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 50%
(3) For deductions allowed over a three (3) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 66%
3rd 33%
(4) For deductions allowed over a four (4) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 75%
3rd 50%
4th 25%
(5) For deductions allowed over a five (5) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 80%
3rd 60%
4th 40%
5th 20%
(6) For deductions allowed over a six (6) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 85%
3rd 66%
4th 50%
5th 34%
6th 17%
(7) For deductions allowed over a seven (7) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 85%
3rd 71%
4th 57%
5th 43%
6th 29%
7th 14%
(8) For deductions allowed over an eight (8) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 88%
3rd 75%
4th 63%
5th 50%
6th 38%
7th 25%
8th 13%
(9) For deductions allowed over a nine (9) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 88%
3rd 77%
4th 66%
5th 55%
6th 44%
7th 33%
________________________________________
8th 22%
9th 11%
(10) For deductions allowed over a ten (10) year period:
YEAR OF DEDUCTION PERCENTAGE
1st 100%
2nd 95%
3rd 80%
4th 65%
5th 50%
6th 40%
7th 30%
8th 20% 9th 10% 10th 5%
Will someone point to me where in the paragraph above the law states that you get out of paying taxes on the land?
Proof!
Proof?
Proof!
Give us Proof!
Why doesn’t Steve Price want my property taxes to be lower? Especially when it doesn’t cost the city a dime?????????????????????
Thank you, anon 04, 06, 07.
I guess that about "duhhhzz" it!!!!
Geez, if you’re so confused that you believe tax abatements cost the city lots of money, then you’re confused enough to believe in England’s kickbacks, downtown’s hopelessness, Roger’s hatred of his city and Steve Price’s genius.
This conversation explains A LOT.
The fact that this conversation happened at all is SCARY.
I wish our “concerned citizen” was concerned enough to educate itself on the issues instead of trying to tear down everything everyone else tries to do.
Are you high man?
Where are all these jobs England promised?
WOW, WHEN DID YOU BECOME AN EXPERT ON EVERYTHING?
Q: Will someone point to me where in the paragraph above the law states that you get out of paying taxes on the land?
A: Are you high man?
Typical. If you’re loosing the argument, change the subject and make an allegation against the person winning the argument. Is this Citizens for Accountability or Citizens for Can’t Read the Law?
Dear “Concerned Citizens and Concerned Taxpayer,”
We’re all citizens. We’re all concerned. We all pay taxes.
God for you Shirley, for deleting that post.
Happy Memorial Day--bloggers.
Charlie Pride? I'd like to give him a call, because he's a great singer. You've got to kiss an angel good morning, right?
The original post was about the youth shelter. Why is it the county's responsibility to do anything? These "troubled" youths are wards of the State. I believe it is a state issue. My Man Mitch has made it nearly impossible for the county to spend any money so he needs to come up with a plan.
Anon 12:24
The youth of Floyd County are our responsibility. If you rely on your man Mitch to do anything but privatize Indiana you will have a long wait.
The children may be "wards of the State" but they reside in the Floyd County Youth Shelter. Somebody needs to take responsibility for these poor kids.
Human beings cannot be privatized.
Shirley,
Repeated, unsubstantiated claims of corruption by the administration are made every day on this blog.
Yesterday a post was made questioning Councilman Price’s mental state.
The posts attacking and making allegations against the administration stay. The post against Price was removed.
At least at Roger’s blog you can post anything you want. Posts there are not deleted because of content. They are deleted only if they are anonymous.
I thought this was a forum for everyone. Why the double standard? Is it official policy of this blog to be bias against the mayor and bias in favor of Price?
I think whether or not a councilman has the intellectual capacity to comprehend a tax abatement is a subject of serious concern to concerned citizens.
The comment regarding Mr. Price's "mental state" compared him to someone who had done drugs for such a long period of time that they were unable to speak coherently.
I have let other comments stand regarding Mr. Price as well as Mr. England and other elected officials.
I just thought that this comment was over the line. I am sorry if you disagree but I would have deleted that comment had it been said about anyone.
Are you folks for real?
How about spending your time making this City a better place instead of spending all your time bickering back and forth like little kids.
If the city is broke how can we focus on spending money we don't have.
Get real people our city and country is in big trouble.
Well if you like Rogers blog then go there and post. Because some of you don't agree with us little people, who just happen to have more common sense then you do, then go back and read Baylor venom.
You got my support Shirley.
Well if you like Rogers blog then go there and post. Because some of you don't agree with us little people, who just happen to have more common sense then you do, then go back and read Baylor venom.
Looks like a lot of drug fried brains in New Albany these days.
Mine too. Great blog here girlfriend.
As much money as they want to spend on a Youth Shelter compared to the few that it will serve is ludicrous. It would be cheaper to let them sleep at the Holiday Inn and order food from room service.
GREAR SMACKDOWN SHIRLEY, IT WAS WAY PAST DUE!
GREAR SMACKDOWN SHIRLEY, IT WAS WAY PAST DUE!
I see. So the Freedom of Speech only applies if you agree with the speaker?
I didn't see the post in question before it was deleted. While I don't always agree with Shirley on policy and such, I have usually found her to be a reasonable person and, more importantly, honest.
I will stand with Shirley's decision to delete the post based on her description of it.
Mark
Anon May 22 9:24PM
I don't know how much money you are talking about but these children deserve a decent place to live.
The county could take an older building and rehab it or build a new one of necessary without making it extravagant. I didn't say it had to be posh, only livable and I'm sure the staff would agree.
to Imhoosier, thanks Mark
Shirley,
I don't remember the exact amount they were using before, but I do remember doing some rough calculations at the time.
We could have bought EACH child an 1,800 square foot house including lot for the amount they were going to spend.
The county council and commissioners need to think realistically and move ahead with a reasonable plan. These children need help now.
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