The final report…revealed

The “final” report (read here) from the nearly year-long reorganization effort was revealed tonight to the public at a meeting of the White River Township Board and Greenwood Common Council. Reorganization Chairman Pat Sherman presented the recommendation. This report will focus on those details that have not been extensively reported earlier.

One of the primary concerns of the committee has been the right to farm in the proposed merged area. It is so important that it is found on the first page of the Executive Summary. In section I.B.1.d it says urban growth towards any agricultural activity shall not be a justification to impose change on grandfathered practices [of farming]. Furthermore, unlike the limited 10-year abatement offered by Bargersville the proposal says “all land, other than specified as homestead, will be exempt from city taxation.”

Finance
In one of the most innovative recommendation in the report, the committee says “In order to provide city services in the most cost effective manner, the Common Council, all city operating departments, boards and commissions are strongly encouraged to seek sources for those services in a creative and non-traditional manner. In particular, evaluating non-traditional service sources such as public/private partnerships, where the parties share risk, is to be emphasized. The City Controller shall be directed to promote this business strategy throughout the city government, and to provide financial analysis of the viability of such action in each case.” This includes such directives as the trash service shall be provided via contract with a third-party service provider and leaf and limb collection will be provided by the City or third-party service provider.

At least for the first year, the budget makes good sense. It says “estimated total expenditure for the new city of Greenwood, excluding fire, library, aviation and probation, will increase from $23.4M in 2010 to $31M in 2011. Meanwhile the population will swell from 48,000 to 77,000. After an increase in population of 60% the expenditures of the city government are projected to grow by only 32%.” However, it should be noted that the recommendation’s projections do not currently extend beyond the first year.

The report continues by saying “a change in the way they use capital funds for operating expenses will allow the tax rate to drop from about 36 cents/$100 in assessed value to 32 cents/$100 in assessed value, a drop of 11%.” (This includes the elimination of the $0.0108/$100 of V (assessed value) of WRT.)

In a win-win for the residents of White River Township, the recommendation follows state law when it states: “Any current debt or pension costs of the current city of Greenwood will remain the responsibility of that area. However, should there be excess funds, they will revert to the New City of Greenwood.”

In a Tax Rate Comparison by size, the New Greenwood would have the second lowest tax rate among Indiana cities with populations of 40K or more. Only the town of Fishers has a lower rate at 45-cents/$100AV. As for the projected budget, Lawrence is the only city with a lower budget, projected at about $25M.

As expected, the proposed new entity will be a second class city. The proposal is to increase City Council members to 11, from seven. The White River Township Board and Trustee will become at-large Council members for WRT until December 31, 2010. However, others can also have to run for those positions in November as the outcome of the referendum is not known. There is no provision to reduce the number on the council in the future, but the 2023 election will be based on eight districts and three at-large members.
Page eight addresses the much discussed pay scale for elected and state certified employees. It states the salaries are designed to “attract and maintain qualified personnel.

Other items in the Governance Section include:

• A position of Deputy Mayor will be established. It is up to the mayor if he or she decides to fulfill that position.
• There will be a position of City Controller in accordance with the requirements of a second class city. It will be a CPA appointed by the mayor and approved by the council.
• The document goes on to diagram how the organization of the city will change between 2010 and 2024 when the vision is fully realized.

Planning and Land Use
One of the primary advantages to being a city is that areas that are subject to primary development or redevelopment can to be assisted to do so by the formation of Tax Increment Financing “TIF” and Economic Revitalization Area “ERA” districts. The recommendation is to establish a “TIF” district and an “ERA” along the transportation corridors of State Road 135, Sate Road 144, State Road 37 and the future Interstate I-69. It also recommends the establishment of a “TIF” district and an “ERA” for the areas designated as Old Town Greenwood and Old Smith Valley Community.

Health Safety and Welfare
Surprisingly, since fire districts are distinct tax entities, the report suggests that White River Township Fire Department and the Bargersville Fire District within the unincorporated WRT will be combined with the City of Greenwood Fire Department to form a single fire department serving the entire new city of Greenwood.

Plan of Reorganization
The proposal says if an official designated to serve as representative of the White River Township or Greenwood Common Council is not qualified, or is unable or unwilling to server during the transition period, a new member will be chosen by the majority vote of the remaining representatives of appropriate council.

The current elected position of Clerk Treasurer will be eliminated. That position will be replaced by an elected City Clerk. The current Clerk Treasurer will serve as the City Clerk until the city election of 2011. The City Clerk will serve at the clerk to the Common Council and to the City Court and be responsible for the administration of poor relief in WRT.

The reorganization report goes on to say that elected officials are encouraged to seek permission from the state of Indiana to expand the jurisdiction of the City Court so that it can function as a small claims court.
It is encouraging to see the recommendation that there will be no political party affiliation requirement on boards or commissions unless required by State laws or current City ordinance. (Emphasis added.)

Other details include:

• Abandoned cemetery maintenance will be the responsibility of the Mayor.
• The Greenwood Police Department will serve both the Rural and Urban districts of the new community.
• The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department will continue to supply those services it provides to all cities and towns in the community.

The full copy of the Reorganization Committee’s report is available here.

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