Unless state officials reverse their hard-line stand, Greencastle residents apparently will see no increase in their 2014 city taxes.
And while initially that may seem like a good thing from a homeowner's standpoint, taken from the be-careful-what-you-wish-for vantage point, it takes on a whole different meaning.
The city is expected to see less tax revenue next year due to an error in the publication of its legal notice for the 2014 budget, City Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar told the City Council at its November meeting Tuesday night.
That translates into city departments being forced to function with 2013 rates and levies, which will likely mean not everything planned for construction or purchase in 2014 will get done next year.
"Over the last six years we have faced other financial challenges," Mayor Sue Murray noted, "and with the cooperation of my department heads, we will work diligently to manage this one too. It's unfortunate to have to rise to the challenge once again."
The current situation stems from the Indiana Department of Local Government and Finance (DLGF) ruling that due to an error in published dates, Greencastle's 2014 budget will be held at its 2013 tax levies and rates.
That 2013 final rate was reported by DLGF as 0.9394, which generated a levy of $3,120,699 (initially, the Council had passed, via Ordinance 2012-13, a higher tax rate of 1.3584).
At issue is the legal ad publication for the city's 2014 budget, which appeared in the Banner Graphic on Aug. 17 and Aug. 23 in advance of a public hearing on Aug. 29.
While the period Aug. 17-23 encompasses seven days, the legal ad needed to be published twice -- seven days apart --- according to state statutes.
The city has appealed the DLGF ruling in regard to non-compliance with state filing statutes, Mayor Murray said. However, the DLGF position has remained unchanged, Dunbar said.
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