Although it wasn’t mentioned during the council meeting, the
Chesterton Tribune confirmed a remonstrance petition has been filed
against a proposed 577.97 percent rate increase for the town’s cumulative
capital development fund.
The rate would go from just over a half-cent to 4 cents per each
$100 of assessed valuation.
That means CCDF collections would jump from $29,805 annually now
to approximately $202,066.
The Town Council earlier had voted to seek a 5-cent CCDF rate. At
that public hearing April 11 resident Gayle Van Loon spoke in opposition and no
one spoke in favor. She and resident Bob Poparad asked how the new money would
be used.
They were told generally for better services, paved roads,
sidewalks and implementing elements of the new comprehensive plan, and that
although the new revenue wasn’t planned on being used for operating expenses,
having it means some capital projects can be removed from the general budget
freeing up money there for operations.
However, state tax officials sent the 5-cent rate request back to
the council saying the maximum could not exceed 4 cents beginning next year.
A new public hearing took place June 13. No one commented but when
a reporter asked what the money would be used for, McGee said nothing right at
this moment. Freeze said, once approved, priorities such as paving and
infrastructure work would be set.
Wednesday, Van Loon said going around town she obtained about 72
signatures on a remonstrance petition against the 4-cent rate. The Porter County
Auditor’s Office confirmed more than the 50 required signatures were certified,
she added.
The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance will schedule a
meeting to consider the remonstrance and to approve, disapprove or modify the
town’s CCDF rate request.
After last night’s meeting, McGee said he had no additional
information about the remonstrance and Miller said, “Nobody came to the (4-cent)
public hearing but that’s fine; we’ll make our case.”
Said Van Loon, who did not attend the council meeting, “I’m
against increasing taxes without being told what they’d be used for. It’s a very
gray area what it could be. (For 2013) knowing they could ask for more
increases, I’m very incensed. They said when we get more rooftops we could lower
taxes. It’s not going to happen.”
She noted the council previously has mentioned a big jump in its
cost for water hydrant maintenance fees, and that the town doesn’t collect a
trash user fee --- both of which could be passed on to town residents next year,
said Van Loon.
