FT has second largest property taxes in county
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At an "invitation only" roundtable, several Franklin Township residential and business leaders met with Mayor Bart Peterson, Tuesday, July 19 at the Carver Technology and Education Center. Peterson said Franklin Township has recently moved up to the second highest property tax bracket in Marion County and half of all housing permits in the county are going to Franklin Township for housing developments.
"Franklin Township is going to end up in first for highest property taxes because of lack of industry in the township," said Peterson. "My sense is that Franklin Township discouraged industry and commercial development until faced with increased property taxes." Peterson said the key is to create opportunities to make money especially at the "huge" access opportunities off of I-65 and I-74 in the township.
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According to the Peterson, 6.4 percent of Franklin Township land is reserved for industrial and commercial development. He said too much land is reserved only for residential and the housing industry loves it. John Sullivan, of the Franklin Township Civic League, said most people like the residential setting and don't want it to change but would consider commercial or light industry where appropriate.
Another civic league member said it was the sentiment of Franklin Township that the township wants to remain residential. "We have commercial land reserved but there are no takers," she said. "If it is the right place, we encourage industrial development."
Changing his posture, Peterson said, "I don't get that. Someone has to be the pioneer in this township. The reputation of Franklin Township as residential only for the past five to ten years ago does not apply now," exclaimed Peterson. He said the city will target economic development including in the infrastructure development.
In Franklin Township, Debbi Fletcher, township liaison to the mayor's office, said the 1991 comprehensive plan of preserving commercial land has to be look at again. The mayor re-emphasized that the city and Franklin Township "needs to figure out a way to deal with this," he said.
David Baird, of CDI, Inc. asked what would attract businesses to Franklin Township . Mayor Peterson responded by saying a "very aggressive use of abatements but more than some other townships because we know you need it more," explained Peterson. Abatements can be used by communities in the form of reductions or deferment of taxes as an incentive for commercial or industrial companies to build in those communities. He added that caution needs to be address not to take away from the school system and to allow the attraction to Franklin Township to process "on its own."
Fletcher and Peterson's staff encouraged Franklin Township residents to continue communicating with his office through the Mayor's Action Center . According to Fletcher, the center has been active for 15 years for the city of Indianapolis and the new e-newsletter will open more opportunities for communication. "This online newsletter is an evolution that is much more aggressive communication with townships, says Mayor Peterson.
At the same time, Peterson also announced to township leaders to expect property taxes to go up all over the county due to the failure to the pass IndyWorks. He said, unfortunately in Franklin Township these additional city taxes would not be going into its fast growing township school corporation. IndyWorks was a budget program created by the Peterson administration to cut $36 million from the city's budget. The biggest part of the plan did not pass.
"We need to get started because there is nothing," said Peterson. "If someone is interested in building a 200,000 square foot building, it will aid in the township's tax base. Once it starts it will accelerate," he said. Pike Township was mentioned as having the benefit of the sprawling Park 100 light industrial campus to balance the growing Pike residential needs.
Peterson said he wants to "get out of the office" more and get back to the basics of working directly with neighborhoods and taxpayers. "I will be returning to Franklin Township twice a year for this format," says Peterson.
Also, Peterson said his new deputy mayor, Steve Campbell, is in charge of neighborhood issues and seems very enthusiastic about his new responsibilities.
Other issues discussed at the meeting included the long traffic lines at Edgewood and Arlington Avenues and the public safety issues because of Arlington Elementary School location to the intersection.
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- FTONEWS.com -