There have been two recent articles in the "Courier-Journal" about eliminating Township Trustees and the Advisory Board. This is another one of Daniel's ideas for "reform".
I have never worked with the Township Trustee's office but I have volunteered at Interfaith and have seen many people apply for help with their utility bills. These people visit the Interfaith office on a daily basis. Interfaith is limited to the amount they have to help these people and often refer them to the Township Trustee's office.
If we did not have a Township Trustee or Advisory Board (who determines the budget) where would these people go for help? The CJ article said they would be referred to "county government" whoever that is. It looks like the poor would be given the run around again, just like when they call the "Welfare" office for help with ADC payments or food stamps.
You can bet that these legislators, especially Rep. Bill Crawford, the author of this bill, has never had to apply for benefits or assist someone who has. I must agree with Rep. Craig Fry who said , "I think this is a horrible public policy." And tell Rep. Crawford that his idea, "This lets the people decide" and "This is about governing with the consent of those governed." is flawed because if the bill is worded as poorly as the one regarding the Township Assessors many will not understand it and will not vote the way they intended.
Let's not let Daniels win on this one. Please vote to keep our Township Advisory Board and Trustees. Don't let our disadvantaged citizens get the shaft again.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
TIF'S 101
What is Tax Increment Financing?
"Tax Increment Financing (TIF) allows cities to create special districts and to make public improvements within those districts that will generate private-sector development. During the development period, the tax base is frozen at the predevelopment level."
www.emich.edu/public/geo/557book/d212.tif.thml
and from the Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet ( I know but it also applies to Indiana)
"...the TIF program enables counties, municipalities, and townships to exempt from real property taxation the new value added to a parcel or group of parcels as a result of new property investment. Unlike the EZ program, TIF can be used with residential development. Another difference involves the exemption associated with a TIF. The EZ program abates taxes, whereas TIF does not change the taxpayer's tax liability or the valuation of the taxpayer's property. Instead, TIF enables the taxpayer to make payments to a special fund in an amount equal to the property tax liability. These payments in lieu of taxes are used by the local government to retire debt incurred for in infrastructure improvements needed to support the new real property investment."
From what I can determine it works like this: a developer purchases a plot of land, the city improves the property with roads, utilities, etc. and the developer's property taxes are put in a special fund to pay the city back for their investment.
I can see how this helps with improvements to the city and how it benefits the property owner (developer). I can also see the other side which is a decrease in the amount of property taxes collected.
So, in other words, do we help to improve property at the risk of lower taxes collected? Or do we wait and hope that the property is developed anyway and collect the whole amount of property tax based on the property after improvements have been made? hmmmmmmmmmmmm
"Tax Increment Financing (TIF) allows cities to create special districts and to make public improvements within those districts that will generate private-sector development. During the development period, the tax base is frozen at the predevelopment level."
www.emich.edu/public/geo/557book/d212.tif.thml
and from the Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet ( I know but it also applies to Indiana)
"...the TIF program enables counties, municipalities, and townships to exempt from real property taxation the new value added to a parcel or group of parcels as a result of new property investment. Unlike the EZ program, TIF can be used with residential development. Another difference involves the exemption associated with a TIF. The EZ program abates taxes, whereas TIF does not change the taxpayer's tax liability or the valuation of the taxpayer's property. Instead, TIF enables the taxpayer to make payments to a special fund in an amount equal to the property tax liability. These payments in lieu of taxes are used by the local government to retire debt incurred for in infrastructure improvements needed to support the new real property investment."
From what I can determine it works like this: a developer purchases a plot of land, the city improves the property with roads, utilities, etc. and the developer's property taxes are put in a special fund to pay the city back for their investment.
I can see how this helps with improvements to the city and how it benefits the property owner (developer). I can also see the other side which is a decrease in the amount of property taxes collected.
So, in other words, do we help to improve property at the risk of lower taxes collected? Or do we wait and hope that the property is developed anyway and collect the whole amount of property tax based on the property after improvements have been made? hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Monday, January 4, 2010
FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF 2010
The meeting began with a quick race for Council President, Mr. Price nominated Pat McLaughlin and Mrs. Benedetti nominated John Gonder. Mr. Gonder won 5-4 with Benedetti, Messer, Zurschmeide, Coffey, and himself voting for him. Mr. McLaughlin got the silver medal as VP.
After the committee members were appointed and/or voted in, the next order of business were the public communications. The parking permits were the main topic tonight. Jameson Bledsoe, Randy Bulleitt, and Vickie Nugent, all Uptown Neighborhood residents spoke in favor. They all discussed their own parking problems and said they would pay to have a designated spot in front of their homes. Randy Smith said he lives on the narrow part of Elm St. He questioned the the idea of having 20' per space considering some lots are only 35' wide. The council voted and decided to sent this Ordinance to committee.
There were a few issues discussed during the city official communications. Mr. Gahan said that A 09-21 (the $400,000 for the flood victims) would be back on the agenda for a 3rd reading at the next meeting.
Mr. Malysz, speaking for the Mayor, urged that A 09-22 also be added to the next agenda (this was the $2,000,000 from EDIT for the fire and police).
said this will be reviewed by the Rules Committee and the Mrs. Benedetti asked for a prompt decision on hiring a new attorney for the council. Mr. Gonderrecommendations will be considered by the council. Mr. Coffey stressed that a Floyd Co. resident will be preferable.
There was also much discussion on Resolution 10-01 concerning the Coyle property. The city has already spent approx. $50,000 for appraisals and an enviromental study and enlarging the TIF area will help to recoup these funds. This also has been sent to committee.
This is a very short summary but the meeting ended by 9:00 with no fireworks. But the year is still very young. Stay tuned.
After the committee members were appointed and/or voted in, the next order of business were the public communications. The parking permits were the main topic tonight. Jameson Bledsoe, Randy Bulleitt, and Vickie Nugent, all Uptown Neighborhood residents spoke in favor. They all discussed their own parking problems and said they would pay to have a designated spot in front of their homes. Randy Smith said he lives on the narrow part of Elm St. He questioned the the idea of having 20' per space considering some lots are only 35' wide. The council voted and decided to sent this Ordinance to committee.
There were a few issues discussed during the city official communications. Mr. Gahan said that A 09-21 (the $400,000 for the flood victims) would be back on the agenda for a 3rd reading at the next meeting.
Mr. Malysz, speaking for the Mayor, urged that A 09-22 also be added to the next agenda (this was the $2,000,000 from EDIT for the fire and police).
said this will be reviewed by the Rules Committee and the Mrs. Benedetti asked for a prompt decision on hiring a new attorney for the council. Mr. Gonderrecommendations will be considered by the council. Mr. Coffey stressed that a Floyd Co. resident will be preferable.
There was also much discussion on Resolution 10-01 concerning the Coyle property. The city has already spent approx. $50,000 for appraisals and an enviromental study and enlarging the TIF area will help to recoup these funds. This also has been sent to committee.
This is a very short summary but the meeting ended by 9:00 with no fireworks. But the year is still very young. Stay tuned.
Friday, January 1, 2010
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
HAPPY 2010 NEW ALBANY
It is a new year and a new decade. I thought about making predictions as others have but I'm no fortune teller. If I could tell the future, well, let's just say my bank account would look a lot better.
Readers, if anyone wants to make predictions or discuss 2009 please do so. Should be an interesting "conversation".
It is a new year and a new decade. I thought about making predictions as others have but I'm no fortune teller. If I could tell the future, well, let's just say my bank account would look a lot better.
Readers, if anyone wants to make predictions or discuss 2009 please do so. Should be an interesting "conversation".
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
I thought about making the usual New Year's Resolutions but decided to list New Year wishes instead. They are listed in no particular order. Just wishful thinking.
- For everyone to have health care, not the expensive kind with high deductibles, but the kind that pays for everything, like all of the other civilized countries have.
- For everyone who needs a job to find a good one. A job with a living wage and good benefits.
- For everyone to have a clean, safe home which they can afford.
- For New Albany to have working sewers and stormwater drains.
- For New Albany to repair all of it's unsafe and dilapidated homes.
- To have the Greenway project finished so everyone can walk along the riverbank safely.
- For the K & I Bridge to be opened for pedestrians.
- For the continuation of the revitalization of New Albany's downtown, including the Main St. Master Plan.
- To end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops home.
- For people to quit trying to take "In God We Trust" off of our currency.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
NO HELP FOR THE FLOOD VICTIMS
I am very disappointed after last night's council meeting. The first item on the agenda was the resolution for the $400,000 to help the flood victims of last August. Jason Hublar and his wife Crystal told of how not only their possessions but the school supplies they purchased for their students were lost. Not only that but they had to take out a loan to cover their loss.
My own brother-in-law and sister-in-law also will be forced to borrow to pay for the repairs to their furnace. I had assured them that the city would take care of them and secured the forms for them to complete and send to Shane Gibson. I have not talked to them yet but they subscribe to the Tribune so they will find out. They are both retired so money is tight, but oh well, that's the way it goes.
I want to thank Shane Gibson, Jeff Gahan, Pat McLaughlin and Dan Coffey for their efforts. These gentlemen spoke about the people who have been devastated by the flood. The rest of the council wanted a long term fix. Mr. Gibson wanted a long term fix also but he knows the people are hurting now. He wanted to reimburse the applicants for their loss and use the rest of the $400,000 for fixing the creeks and ditches. Made sense to me.
Also on the agenda was the request of an appropriation for $2,000,000 to fund the police and fire departments. It was decided to postpone the vote until there was more investigation.
The vacant Trinity Plaza building on the corner of Daisy Lane and Green Valley Rd. will be used as a furniture store for two years. The Planning Commission hopes that by that time a medical facility will replace the furniture store.
And last but not least the $300,000 loan from the Rainy Day Fund to the Storm Water Fund was passed. It was also decided that after three years the Storm Water Fund needs a audit.
My own brother-in-law and sister-in-law also will be forced to borrow to pay for the repairs to their furnace. I had assured them that the city would take care of them and secured the forms for them to complete and send to Shane Gibson. I have not talked to them yet but they subscribe to the Tribune so they will find out. They are both retired so money is tight, but oh well, that's the way it goes.
I want to thank Shane Gibson, Jeff Gahan, Pat McLaughlin and Dan Coffey for their efforts. These gentlemen spoke about the people who have been devastated by the flood. The rest of the council wanted a long term fix. Mr. Gibson wanted a long term fix also but he knows the people are hurting now. He wanted to reimburse the applicants for their loss and use the rest of the $400,000 for fixing the creeks and ditches. Made sense to me.
Also on the agenda was the request of an appropriation for $2,000,000 to fund the police and fire departments. It was decided to postpone the vote until there was more investigation.
The vacant Trinity Plaza building on the corner of Daisy Lane and Green Valley Rd. will be used as a furniture store for two years. The Planning Commission hopes that by that time a medical facility will replace the furniture store.
And last but not least the $300,000 loan from the Rainy Day Fund to the Storm Water Fund was passed. It was also decided that after three years the Storm Water Fund needs a audit.
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