DLGF Issues Guidance on Notice and Adoption of Budgets, Levies and Rates

On March 19, 2012, Governor Mitch Daniels signed into law House Enrolled Act 1072 (“HEA 1072”).  Section 23 of HEA 1072 amends IC 6-1.1-17-3, modifying the procedures by which political subdivisions provide public notice of their proposed budgets, tax levies, and tax rates.  Section 24 amends IC 6-1.1-17-3.5, altering the process by which a county fiscal body performs non-binding review of the proposed budget tax levies, and tax rats of a taxing unit (“unit”) not governed by IC 6-1.1-17-20 or IC 6-1.1-17-20.3.  Section 27 amends IC 6-1.1-17-20, revising the process by which town, city and county fiscal bodies adopt the budgets, tax levies and tax rates of certain units.

These amendments, which take effect July 1, 2012, establish a budget advertisement and adoption schedule as follows:

·         September 1:  Last possible day for a unit to submit its proposed budget, tax levies, and tax rates to the appropriate fiscal body for review or adoption by that fiscal body.

·         September 13:  Last possible day for unit or fiscal body to publish the first advertisement of its proposed budget, tax levies, and tax rates and the time and place at which the unit or fiscal body will hold a public hearing on these matters.

·         September 20:  Last possible day for unit or fiscal body to publish second advertisement.

·         October 1:  last possible day for county fiscal body to perform a non-binding review pursuant to IC 6-1.1-17-3.5.

·         November 1:  Last possible day for unit or fiscal body to adopt a budget, tax levy, and tax rate.

This memorandum address [sic] the changes made by Sections 23, 24 and 27 of HEA 1072.

See the full memorandum here:

http://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/120521_Changes_to_the_Processes_of_Advertising_Reviewing_and_Adopting_Budgets_Tax_Levies_and_Tax_Rates.pdf