Carmel vs Fishers 2014 budgets

While Fishers and Carmel have similar populations the comparison widens from there. Their 2014 budgets are quit different. Fishers recently approved next years budget of $81M and Carmel’s is $127M. The difference has some asking what the difference is.

1. Carmel owns its' water company and it is included in the budget where as Fishers gets water from Indianapolis. In recent years Carmel has converted all of Clay Township to city owned water. Its’ infrastructure and processing capacity have been expanded to handle future peak demands. This was evident in the drought of 2012 when Carmel only asked it costumers to conserve as other communities were on strict restrictions. Carmel was actually selling water to surrounding communities.

2. Carmel is paying to build and maintain infrastructure for 43 corporation headquarters and other major commercial taxpayers. It costs more but these taxpayers have been the reason the city’s taxes have been so low. Carmel is now 2nd in the state of Indiana for office space and has 10 times the amount of Class A office spaces as Fishers. Carmel collects up to $12 million more in County Option Income tax as Fishers.

3. Carmel spends almost most $10 million more on fire protection. The city has 4 fire fighters per truck where many communities have only 2-3. For every fire fighter who enters a burning building 2 must remain behind. This extra manpower and spending translates into lower insurance rates. This results in Carmel scoring higher when corporations look to relocate.

4. As many communities only list the general fund in their budget Carmel lists capitals projects that other cities may not. When comparing Carmel’s budget it is evident the city is ahead of surrounding communities in upgrading local roads and ease of travel. Carmel has a number of capital projects planned for next year that will continue to add value to relocating companies and existing residents.

In 2012 Carmel was 156th out of 565 cities and towns on per capita spending. Given inflation Carmel’s taxes are that of 1996. The city’s vision has been to transform the city from a suburb to an edge city that is sustainable and competitive in the new world economy. Being named number #1 by Money Magazine in 2012 for cities under 250,000 is a good indicator the vision is working.

No Impass With CRC Transition

No Impasse with CRC Transition

Last week both Mayors Ballard and Brainard were out of town attending the US Conference of Mayors in Washington, representing the concerns of cities in Indiana.. I suspect that may have lead to miscommunications between the Clerk and the Mayors office that resulted in the Current in Carmel’s article that an impasse had developed between the Clerk Treasure and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission.   http://currentincarmel.com/city-and-crc-at-an-impasse

I had heard second hand before I left the 4CDC that the CRC had been making plans for the transition to be a department of the city per the councils new ordinance. There had been several emails between the Mayor and the Clerk treasure discussing this. 

Knowing how things can get distorted in the press and how easy it is to get misquoted, I will share the following about the CRC’s transition.

The CRC has always been a department of the city. An ordinance was passed back in the early 90’s.  To avoid using general funds from the city in the past, the CRC has funded its expenses through self generated non TIF funds.

There is no reason that the CRC files need to be kept in the clerk’s office or at city hall. The utility and street departments have remote offices where their files are kept. That is also true with the fire and police departments. Why the clerk treasure would order the files to be moved doesn’t make sense.

As to the clerk’s claim that there had been no communications with the CRC, Jim Higgins the former treasure indicated he had been in daily contact with the clerks office about the transition.  Steve Engleking from the mayors office had a number of meetings with the Deputy Clerk to work out details for the approval process of claims and the transition.

The only thing that hasn’t happened is a salary ordinance by the council authorizing the clerk to make payroll for the CRC.. Councilor Snyder at the last council meeting suggested the CRC payroll continue as in the past until the new ordinance was approved.

The only changes are #1 the CRC will have to have council approval for future borrowing. Note that Council President Sharp approved borrowing that circumvented the council while he served on the CRC.

Number #2, the clerks office will once again pay all bills and payroll.  With the Performing Arts Center completed this should not over whelm that office.

Number #3 like all the city departments the City Council will be including the CRC’s budget into the yearly city budget process.

Other than the 3 items mentioned above, the CRC reports to the Mayor and will operate basically the same as it has in the past.  It will  continue a number of projects that have become models for cities near and far.

As Governor Daniels stated about a year ago, “Carmel is a city that every knowledgeable Hoosier should be proud of.

What is the Carmel Vision?

In a nut shell it is to prepare the city for sustainability as it approaches build out in the coming decades. At that time today’s investments will be paid off and its finances will continue to keep its taxes some of the lowest in Indiana. Most communities that reach build-out see declining revenues and infrastructure yet to be built to encourage sustainability  Carmel goals is to remain one of the premier places to both work and live in the Midwest for the coming millennium.

Carmel in its distant past was never a prosperous city. It wasn’t a County seat but was a small farm town of little distinction. It’s downtown was nearly destroyed in 1913 by fire because the city was unprepared. Its one ace in the hole was its proximity to Indianapolis and to US/31 that suburban growth followed north.

The pattern for the last 100 years of sprawl has been boom and bust. One can see the progression as one drives North on Meridian from downtown Indianapolis. Experts tell us today’s sprawling suburbs will in future generations age and face many of the same problems that plague our urban cores and them some. My son’s grandfather use to go hunting after school where Glendale mall is today. Broad Ripple High School was one of the best in the State. The bust after the boom can be seen in  Washington Twp that is in Marion County. Since its schools were separate from IPS, busing cant be blamed for the decline.  

Carmel realizes that some day its housing stock will also be aged and new sprawl will have moved further North. The Challenge then is how does it prepare today to provide the infrastructure and quality of life that will entice following generations to move to and reinvest in Carmel?

Part two will address the steps being taken by Carmel for build-out.