Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness is asking the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board to pass a resolution agreeing on the financial impact of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) deals used by the city in economic development.  The mayor was clear that he is not asking school board members to endorse the city’s economic development activities, but to agree on the numbers and how TIF does and does not make a difference in the amount of money available to the local schools.

The mayor’s presentation was limited to how Fishers TIF developments impact the HSE Schools.  The HSE District also includes Wayne Township and some areas in the City of Noblesville.

The mayor emphasized the TIF Districts do pay property taxes to schools approved by voters in a referendum.  Fadness said TIF Districts in Fishers pay $829,000 a year in property taxes for local schools.

Mayor Fadness presented to the school board a financial report prepared by Policy Analytics on the impact of TIFs in Fishers.  You can read that report at this link.

Fadness and City Councilman Eric Moeller attended the Tuesday morning school board work session.  It will now be up to the HSE School Board to decide whether to vote on the mayor’s resolution suggestion.  The Fishers City Council has already passed such a resolution.

Board members voiced no indication during the work session as to whether they would or would not support the mayor’s resolution proposal.