Fishers Stands to Gain $7 Million – $9 Million in 2016 from Legislative Action

LarryInFishers.com

The Indiana General Assembly is considering two pieces of legislation, one in the House, the other in the Senate, which could bring between $7 million and $9 million into the coffers of Fishers city government this year.

Mayor Scott Fadness told the City Council Finance Committe on February 10th that the funds would come from County Option Income Tax (COIT) money the state has been holding.  Local governments throughout Indiana would have COIT funds released to them under both pieces of legislation.

The House bill is sponsored by local State Representative Todd Huston, and would provide Fishers $7.1 million in 2016 with no restrictions on how the money is spent.  Under Huston’s measure, Fishers would garner $7.2 million in 2017 and $8.1 million in 2018.

In the Senate, the COIT legislation is sponsored by Brandt Hershman, Chairman of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.  It provides $9.3 million in 2016, but $6.9 million of that amount (roughly 75%) is earmarked for transportation projects only.  Hershman’s bill provides fewer Fishers dollars in later years – $3.3 million in 2017 and $6.2 million in 2018.

When the House and Senate pass legislation containing different language, a joint House-Senate conference committee is appointed to negotiate a final version of the bill, usually involving a compromise containing some components of each measure.  That’s what is likely to happen in this case.

In other news items from the Finance Committee meeting:

–The census Fishers plans to conduct is moving forward.  The site supervisor from the U.S. Census Bureau will arrive around April 1st.  The actual counting should begin within 30 days of that date.  City Controller Oscar Gutierrez says the census operation will most likely be headquartered at the Delaware Township Center.

–Council members on the committee indicated they want to consider the compensation package being provided city elected officials, including pay and retirement benefits. Finance Committee Chairman John Weingardt says Fishers City Council members are the lowest paid in this region and he wants the panel to look at compensation for council members.