By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
With Gov. Mike Braun’s property tax relief legislation now in place, municipal officials across Indiana are face-to-face with the concerns they have been expressing for months.
The Braun bill, signed into law last April, took effect January 1 and is designed to bring about property tax relief for Hoosiers.
Property taxes are a primary source of funding for local services.
So the legislation has sparked concerns of revenue shortfalls that could bring about major budget cuts or force local governments to move to seek other, potentially unpopular revenue streams.
Or, as Decatur City Councilman Tyler Fullenkamp said at the latest council meeting, “They (state officials) will force us to make the unpopular decisions.”
As a result of the great concerns moving forward, Decatur officials have hired a financial planner.
Andy Mouser, a director with Indianapolis-based Baker Tilly, a registered municipal advisor, laid out at the council meeting how a Comprehensive Financial Plan would be put together and how it would provide great assistance to the city as it moves through 2026.
Noting that “pretty drastic changes are coming,” Mouser told council that such a plan “will make many of your budget decisions much easier. This plan will help you navigate legislative changes.”
“I think it’s a really good idea to do some financial planning for the future,” Mayor Dan Rickord said. “So I think this can really help us along.”
The mayor said he and Clerk-Treasurer Eran Hackman have been talking about plans for the future and the uncertainty of finances, “and have found ourselves at a standstill.”
Hackman agreed. “We have great ideas moving forward, but we don’t know how to make it happen (financially). This will help us determine priorities, etc.”
“The ability to prioritize is No. 1 and this (plan) will help you do that,” Mouser added.
The city has no comprehensive financial plan at this time.
After Mouser answered several questions from City Attorney Anne Razo, council unanimously voted to hire Baker Tilly to provide a financial plan.
The cost will be $60,000, $40,000 of which is in the city’s 2026 budget. The other $20,000 will come from utilities.
Hackman pointed out that once Mouser has delivered the plan, the city will have it and then be able to make annual updates
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