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Clermont Council Approves Fire Fund
(posted July 11)
The Clermont Town Council voted 3-1 to approve two funds that would be
outside the normal tax levy. Nancy Baxter was the dissenting vote. Before
the resolution was passed July 10, signed petitions were delivered to the
county auditor's office July 7 opposing the creation of the cumulative
capital fund and cumulative firefighting building and equipment fund. The
funds would be payable in 2009.
Because it was not unanimous vote, Hinshaw said a special meeting will
be set for July 24 at the town hall to discuss the issue again. He also
noted Town Attorney Robert Lutz should be available to answer questions.
Resident Kevin Pennington said he did not want to be taxed any more with
the economy the way it is.
"I agree," President Bob Hinshaw said. Hinshaw contended the
firefighting building and equipment fund was a vehicle to cover the fire
contract. He suspected that Wayne Township would raise the rate so Clermont
residents would finally be paying the same rate as of all of Wayne Township.
Hinshaw did not think the two funds would increase taxes.
Resident Linda Backus wanted a resolution passed to specify items the CCD
could be used for, rather than the broader use allowed by Indiana Code.
Councilor John Miller said that the town needs the additional accounts
to save money now because HB 1001 imposed tax caps that will start cutting
into the town's distributions by 2010.
Hinshaw explained the town still has not received a fire contract estimation
from the township. Last year, the town did not receive the contract amount
until January 2008 after it already submitted its budget to the DLGF in
September 2007. The town did not expect the fire bill to grow from $298,000
to $360,000. Hinshaw said the town fortunately had some additional monies
in other funds to cover the increase.
Linda Lucas thinks the two funds will increase taxes by about $100.00 per
taxpayer.
Lucas preferred to dissolved the town so she would not have to pay taxes
for Clermont Police protection. She preferred to have fire protection.
Councilor Vonda Kiger, who is on medical leave, was displeased about the
proposed tax rates, but said she could not vote because her medication
makes it difficult to make decisions. Kiger sat in the audience, saying
she was there as a resident.
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