by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Property assessment and its effect on taxation is a somewhat complicated subject for many folks, but I will give you my understanding of it.

Thousands of Hamilton County residents and business owners received reassessment notices last week notifying them of changes in the taxable valuation of their property. Most properties have had assessments increased and there have been more increases on structures than land this year.

The increases are based on the recent sales of comparable properties in the immediate area of a subject home or property. The real estate market is “hot” in Hamilton County, and assessments reflect this.

Countywide, the increase in the total gross taxable valuation (the tax base) appears to have increased from $42.3 billion last year to about $47.3 billion this year or about 12 percent, which is a tremendous one-year increase.

The net valuation, yet to be calculated, is much lower due to the various deductions including homestead exemptions, tax abatements, etc.

But, it will be a big increase nevertheless, which comes largely from new construction and trending upward in the value of existing homes and businesses. Estimates from the county assessor are preliminary and unofficial, stressed Assessor Robin Ward.

But, if the final net assessed value expands another 10 or 12 percent this year as expected, and city, county, schools and libraries hold next year’s spending to only modest increases, then individual tax bills next year should not rise significantly or, in some cases, at all.

If, on the other hand, elected officials decide to make the most of the big increase in the tax base, and leave their tax rates as they are or increase them, most individual home owners could expect a major hike in their tax bill.

Few property owners want to see higher taxes unless absolutely necessary, but even fewer understand the taxation system and when to voice their opinions.

Appeals of higher assessments are an option for homeowners and businesses. Later this year, there are public hearings on next year’s proposed budgets.

In some Indiana counties, the tax base is static or shrinking and property tax hikes are absolutely necessary to maintain public services. But, not in Hamilton County. It’s one of the advantages of living in the state’s wealthiest county.

With a few days left to sign-up, only 109 students in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District have committed to be virtual-only for the fall semester of 2021.  That’s out of a total student population of about 21,500.

Superintendent Allen Bourff told the school board Wednesday night that families will have a deadline of Sunday night (May 16) to make the virtual commitment.  The district is expecting students electing all-virtual learning to commit to the entire fall semester.

Of those electing all-virtual classes so far, 55 are grades kindergarten through 6th grade….16 in grades 7 & 8…and 38 at the high school level.

Bourff said a number of questions have been submitted about the virtual option commitment.  For answers, he pointed to webinars that can be accessed at this link.

In other school board news from Wednesday night’s session:

–Ryan Taylor, Director of Staff and Student Support Services, presented the board with results of a walk zone study, looking at areas where students could walk to school.  This was also studied in 2003 and 2015.  Taylor detailed what needs to be done with other government entities in order to provide the infrastructure needed to provide walk zones.  This was presented as an information-only item.  You can find his presentation at this link.

–The board gave final approval to block scheduling for the coming school year at both high schools, Fall Creek Junior High and HSE Intermediate / Junior High.

–The school district is planning a new program, HSEngaged, patterned after the Fishers City Citizens Academy and the Hamilton County Leadership Academy.  The program will take applicants beginning in June and will only accept 20 participants in the first year.  For more information, use this link.

–The Snapshot of Success featured Katie Barnett, a student at Fishers High School, competed in the Start Up Business Plan competition and was named State Champion in the event at DECA SCDC (State Career Development Conference).  For more, view a video at this link.

Of the many worthy causes in and around the Fishers area, the Fishers Youth Assistance Program is one I know well and is well worth your support.

Below is a news release issued by the organization all about how you can help young people in need during the summer months of 2021.

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Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP) is seeking monetary and volunteer support for its annual meals programs – Snack Attack and the 2021 Summer Meals program – that provide food and additional resources for hundreds of Hamilton Southeastern Schools children each year.

Snack Attack distributes more than 2,900 snacks to 429 students each week throughout the HSE Schools calendar year. The Summer Meals program provides breakfast and lunch for 700 youth during a nine-week period over the summer months.

Several groups supported FYAP meals programs in 2020, including the Hamilton County Commissioners, Central Indiana Community Foundation, the Care Institute, Ardagh Group, Four Day Ray, the Broom Family, several local churches and individual donors.

“We wanted to support FYAP because Four Day Ray is part of the Fishers community,” said Brian Graham, President & Owner, Four Day Ray. “It is part of our mission to assist the community we love and give back whenever we can. The kids in our community needed help, and we were able to step up and help in a time of need. We are so excited our business is able to make an impact right here in our own backyard.”

The depth of the impact made since 2014 through FYAP programs has been felt in the Hamilton County Court system.

“We have seen a decrease in the number of kids detained in our detention center and who have ended up in the judicial system over the last several years,” said Paul Felix, the Judge of the Hamilton County Circuit Court and FYAP board member. “Our Fishers Early Intervention Advocates have done a wonderful job identifying challenges early in the lives of these kids so they don’t head down a much more destructive path in the future.

There are many opportunities and ways to contribute to both programs, including:

• Volunteer;
• Summer Meals and Snack Attack Wish List Purchases and Shipping;
• Donate Funds to Support Our Meals Programs; and
• Sponsor a child for Summer Meals Program for $160.

FYAP serves as an early intervention advocate for youth ages 3-17 who are facing challenging life circumstances. The local nonprofit organization takes a holistic approach to coordinate our community’s vast array of talents, services and resources to help youth and empower parents and caregivers.

FYAP early intervention advocates connect clients with resources in the areas of child wellness, basic needs, caregiver support, social engagement, extended academic support and judicial prevention. If you are a family who could benefit from this support, please complete a self-referral at www.youthassistance.org/fishers.

You can make a donation at this link.

A Fishers man faces charges in connection with a May 5th shooting at the Flats Apartment complex, located in the Fishers Marketplace, near 131st Street and Cumberland Road.  Tyreik Buckner, 19, is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on counts of attempted murder, attempted aggravated battery, criminal recklessness and criminal mischief.

According to Fishers Police, officers responded to reports of gunshots fired in the 9500 block of Ambleside Drive just before 7:30am.  A search of the area determined no one was injured.  Detectives determined the suspect fired the gun during an argument with another man.  Investigators determined this was not a random act.

Police found Buckner May 10th and took him into custody without incident.

This case remains an active investigation. Anyone with information should contact Fishers Police Detective Rob Baker at 317-595-3134.

It was May 11, 1991, when Jane Elizabeth Johnson became Jane Elizabeth Johnson Lannan.  That was our wedding day.

I could not imagine what my life what have been like without Jane at my side the past 30 years.  Frankly, I am glad I do not know.

Whatever I have accomplished during the past 30 years, Jane was right at my side, supportive in every way.  This blog would not still be going without Jane’s support.

When our twin daughters Mary & Allison came along, Jane was not just the best wife a guy could as for, but a mom every kid would want to have.  She is loving the role of Grammy to our grandson Dakota.

You might think 30 years is a long time, and in many ways it is.  But it doesn’t seem that long to me because Jane was always there, at my side.

It is not easy to describe 30 years of married life.  Through all the ups and downs that life has thrown at us, Jane has always been a partner and wife that kept everything straight and narrow.

So, Jane, thanks for 30 years and the many years yet to come in our marriage.  I love you very much!

It is quite astonishing that a man, believed to have lived in the sixth century, a Greek named Aesop, told oral fables that were passed on for generations, put into writing centuries later and are still read throughout the world to this day.  That was an amazing feat for a man tradition tells us was a slave.

One of Aesop’s most famous fables was the Goose That Laid The Golden Egg.  As the fable goes, a man and his wife had a goose (some versions of the story describe it as a hen) that laid a golden egg each day.  The man and his wife were convinced the goose had a large amount of gold inside to produce those eggs.  They killed the goose only to find no gold within the body.  The couple’s get-rich-quick scheme of antiquity not only did not work, it robbed them of the golden eggs they had been receiving every day.

Why do I bring up an Aesop fable at this time?  Because it has something important to say to those of us living in Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District.  We have an institution that is good as gold and killing it would be a big mistake.

I have been reporting news in Fishers for more than nine years and have lived here for 30 years.  I can tell you that elected officials, economic development specialists and leaders in the private sector will generally agree on this – the enormous growth in the City of Fishers is largely because of the high reputation of the HSE Schools.  It is not the only factor, but without a public school district with a first-class standing, the growth at the level we have seen in the past 30 years would not have been possible.

My twin daughters attended HSE Schools K-12.  The education they both received prepared them well for the post-secondary world and both are now college graduates.  A strong local public school system did my family well.

There are some serious debates going on locally about HSE Schools.  I have always believed a healthy debate is a good thing in a pluralistic, democratic society.  In most instances, it provides better outcomes in the end.

However, I am troubled by the tone of some social media postings lately.  I have just returned from a week-long out-of-town trip, but discovered reports of signs popping up in the HSE district saying “Defund HSE Schools.”  I have not seen any of those signs yet, but based on a number of social media postings, it appears they have been around.

Again, everyone is entitled their own views, but a “Defund HSE” campaign troubles me.  It does not respect the hard-working teachers and other staff members wrapping up what can only be described as a massively stressful pandemic school year of online and in-person classes.  From everything I have seen, and from the teachers I know, they have all been stretched to the limit in educating our students this school year.

I suspect the Defund HSE signs are a precursor to an operating referendum that will be needed at some point in the near future, possibly in May of 2023, to continue the staffing levels and compensation for HSE’s workers.  In the past two referenda I have covered, small groups of people posted signs literally on the day of the referendum election or a day before opposing the district’s ballot measure.  In both cases, the referendum was approved by a wide margin of voters.

Perhaps those planning to oppose the referendum, whatever the specific language will be, are already organizing.  I would hope not.

The current debates around curriculum are interesting, and the subject of a recent James Briggs commentary in the Indianapolis Star (you must be a subscriber to access the link).

If we have a healthy debate, and decisions are made by our elected officials, we need to stand behind our local educators for the sake of our community, now and in the future.

Failure to do so means we may be killing the Goose That Laid The Golden Egg.  As Aesop tells us, that does not end well.

Adam Aasen, Alec Toombs & Larry Lannan talk about movie theaters and scheduled re-openings throughout the local area.  Also, a total of 8 films are reviewed in this episode.

The weather may not be warm enough for the the satisfaction of many people in and around Fishers, but that is not stopping road crews as construction continues in and around the city.

Here is the latest road construction update, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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When land became available along the Geist Lake waterfront, the City of Fishers moved quickly to acquire the property.  After many months of obtaining permits and the required legal permissions, construction of Geist Waterfront Park began with the ground breaking ceremony Friday.

This construction is the first of many phases.  This phase will include a beach and dock access along with a playground, all set be completed in 2022.  This first phase of construction is estimated to cost $15 million.  The full completion of the park is projected to be finished by 2040.

Hamilton County Reporter

Fall Creek Township Trustee Doug Allman has announced a partnership with local nonprofit FLiCK, which provides financial education and financial counseling to adults in financial need at no cost. Townships in Indiana provide assistance for residents who find themselves in need of basic needs such as shelter, utilities, medicine, and food. Partnering with FLiCK provides an additional service for the residents of Fall Creek Township.

“This partnership will allow our office to provide the resources to our clients,” Allman said. “Our office is seeing a trend of residents who are in need of financial counseling, and FLiCK fits perfect as an educational and planning resource for clients.”

For more information, visit flickcorp.org