Vincennes Council passes resolutions on Kimmell Park and to appeal the tax levy

city-council

 

KIMMEL PARK RESOLUTION

The Vincennes City Council unanimously passed a resolution last night supporting the transfer of ownership of Kimmel Park and Cooper’s Wood to Vincennes University. Council had tabled action on the ordinance two weeks ago until issues surrounding the relocation of the Vincennes Boat Club were ironed out. The city has agreed to provide the boat club with a site in Pearl City to build a new clubhouse and has also arranged financing for them through the city’s revolving loan fund.

Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum calls it an amazing opportunity.

Vice-President for Financial Services at Vincennes University Phil Rath says they’ve received 360-thousand dollars from an anonymous donor to assist with making over the entrance to the park. Rath had previously indicated that the new entrance will provide a panoramic view of the Wabash River. Rath added they are pursuing other grant opportunities as well as committing the University’s resources to cleaning up the park.

The Vincenens Board of Works is expected to sign the paperwork transferring ownership of the park to the university at their 1st meeting in January.

 


 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDING

Despite cost-cutting measures in the Vincennes Fire department, the City Council is once again subsidizing the department to keep it out of the red. Last night, council members voted to appropriate 350-thousand dollars out of EDIT to cover the department’s operating expenses. Mayor Joe Yochum says this isn’t the first time council has had to appropriate money to cover the department’s expenses. Part of the reason behind the shortfall is the city receiving less money than anticipated from the city’s tax levy. Vincennes isn’t alone in coming short in projected tax revenue. The Vincennes School Corporation also didn’t receive as much money as they had anticipated. Part of the problem is the tax caps implemented by the Indiana General Assembly which places a ceiling on taxes paid by homeowners, businesses and farmers.

 


 

TAX LEVY APPEAL

The Vincennes City Council plans to petition the board of Local Government Finance for an increase in its maximum tax levy. Council’s financial adviser Ben Rager advised the council that the city was shorted 500-thousand dollars in the 2012-13 levy. In a memo to the council, Rager stated an error in calculating property values led to artificially higher rates meaning less revenue coming into the city. Rager says the city has two years in which to file an appeal. He says the worst case scenario would be some residents might end up paying an additional 24-dollars. Council passed a resolution to file an appeal with council members Tim Salters and Ashley Morrison opposed.