City Approves 2014 Tax Rate, Supports Property Annexation
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw City Council Monday approved the city’s tax rate for 2014. The council voted in support of setting the 2014 tax rate at $1.195. This is a .02 percent increase from last year’s rate of $1.1714. The state Department of Local Government Finance would have allowed the 2014 rate to be set at $1.215, noted Mayor Joe Thallemer, but the city voted to not raise the tax levy as high as the state would allow. Councilman Charlie Smith made a motion in support of setting the city’s tax rate for 2014 at $1.195, seconded by council member Cindy Dobbins. Council member Elaine Call voted in support of the $1.215 tax rate allowed by the DLGF that would encourage the city to build its reserves. The city received its 1782 notice from the DLGF and met three hours early to meet the midnight deadline of responding with its levy that must be filed with the state. The DLGF is required annually to provide taxing units with a notice of final budget recommendations known as the 1782 notice. The city is $22,000 under the maximum tax levy, Thallemer said. “The idea is to reduce spending to help shore up the reserves and keep the rate close to what it was last year,” Thallemer said. “This is a balance of trying not to get too far under the levy, but try to keep the tax rate palatable and keep our reserves healthy.” Mike Klondaris, councilman, said he supported the tax rate. “I think this is a really great place for us to be and we are doing a great job for the taxpayers,” Klondaris said. Diane Quance, council president, said she supported the 2014 tax rate. “It’s important we go with the 2 cents higher than last year because I think we need to have money in reserve in order to be fiscally responsible to our citizens, and if we need that money it’s there,” she said. “I feel comfortable with this because we are not shoring away an overabundance of money. I think we are getting to where we have a comfortable cushion.” Quance said she felt the city needs to be responsible by putting a little bit more money in reserves than it did last year. Council also approved a resolution for reductions to the 2014 budget totaling $933,900. Reductions included $595,200 from the general fund; $39,300, aviation; $35,300, cemetery; $92,300, park and recreation and $171,800, fire territory operating fund. The majority of the reductions are from overbudgeting in health insurance and property casualty insurance. Reductions in the mayor’s budget include $16,700; human resources, $7,000; clerk treasurer, $14,400; council, $164,000; police, $257,800; street, $109,700; building and planning, $25,600; aviation, $39,300; and Oakwood Cemetery, $35,300. Thallemer said he solicited reductions from department heads and was pleased with the results. “Our department heads have been realistic in their budgets and responsive when we’ve asked them to make cuts,” he said. In other business, the council approved the city proceeding with a request from petitioners Dick Jaynes, Jeff Beeler, Tim Zentz and Mitchell Trust for voluntary annexation. The request includes annexing into the city three existing residential properties and an undeveloped field consisting of 37 acres for residential development. The properties are north of DePuy and on the north side of U.S. 30. Jeremy Skinner, city planner, said a public hearing on the annexation will need to be advertised and take place. The city will need to also approve a resolution and annexation ordinance. Also during the meeting, Dobbins thanked the street and cemetery employees for putting up Christmas lights in the trees downtown. Thallemer informed the council it will review 2014 board and commission appointments at its Dec. 16 council meeting. Quance reminded the council this is the last week for residents to rake their leaves to the curb for leaf pick up. After this week, residents will need to bag or box their leaves.
