“There’s simply too much division,” Clere (R) said. “Partisanship is a big part of what’s driving it. We need to move away from that and try to find ways to come together as elected officials and unite our constituents, our communities.”
Indiana is one of just six states that allow straight-ticket voting, along with Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma and South Carolina, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
While the General Assembly partially eliminated the practice in 2016 by abolishing straight-ticket voting for at-large races, lawmakers and election experts say the resulting hybrid system has only added confusion.
“Voters don’t always understand that they still have to select individual candidates for at-large races when they vote straight ticket,” Clere said. “So they choose not to vote at all.”
Clere, now in his ninth term, said he has authored or co-authored versions of the bill multiple times, first filing it jointly in 2023 with former Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville. He said the issue has only grown more urgent as political divisions have intensified.
A new funding opportunity is coming to Brown County, using dollars collected from visitors to help support projects that benefit both the local community and the county’s tourism economy.
Nobody enjoys getting a property tax bill. Whether you’ve owned your home for 40 years or just bought it last month, writing that check twice a year probably isn’t something you look forward to.
Hughett wins four HSPA awards. … Hughett also received second place for Best General Commentary and second place for Best News Coverage With No Deadline Pressure for her coverage of the Clark-Stanley lawsuit.
Oct 9, 2026. Council Targets about $284,000 in employee pay increases, By Courtney Hughett, Brown County Democrat
Note: Commissioners’ new personnel policy requires 40 hours of work (not 35 of 37.5) for 40 hours of pay. This removes the one-hour paid lunch. The lunch period is optional, and employees can extend their work schedule to accommodate a 30- or 60-minute lunch period. The county council can change work hours to maintain current pay levels while working fewer hours.
Sep 23, 2026. Commissioners approve unpaid lunch policy over objections. By Courtney Hughett, Brown County Democrat/ Brown County Commissioners approved a new personnel policy manual Wednesday night, Sept. 16, after a long debate over whether some county employees should continue to receive a one-hour paid lunch each day. (Editor’s note: The second part of the Commissioners’ meeting coverage is on page A6)
Sep 23, 2027. Public Records Policy tabled over access concerns By Courtney Hughett. Brown County Democrat
Sept 23, 2026. Your Views. Brown County housing stock: Capacity, constraints, and questions, Brown County Democrat.
Sep 18, 2026. Yellowwood, Mountain Tea part of DNR open
house on Oct 1. The event will cover Morgan-Monroe, Ravinia, Yellowwood and Mountain Tea state forests. Yellowwood and Mountain Tea are located in Brown County, making the open house an opportunity for local residents to ask questions and provide feedback about forests in their own community.
New sign highlights Music Center’s community impact. By Lydia Potter BCCF Development Director for the Brown County DemocratThe Brown County Community Foundation took a field trip to the Brown County Music Center last week to celebrate the installation of a new sign recognizing the philanthropic support of the Brown County Maple Leaf Management Group Inc., d/b/a Brown County Music Center through the Foundation.
The commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the Brown County Commissioners … Brown County, Indiana. Contact us: newsroom@bcdemocrat.com.
Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a contract Aug. 20 with Paycom for a new payroll and human resources management system, a move they say should modernize
how the county handles payroll, employee records, benefits and related personnel work.
The vote came during a short joint meeting of the Brown County Commissioners and County Council. Commissioners’ Administrative Assistant Theresa Cobian said the county is not simply buying another payroll system, but adding more functions than it currently has. The contract includes payroll, human resources modules and benefits enrollment tools. Cobian said the county already pays similar fees under its current payroll system.
Aug 28, 2026. Commissioners seek legal review of Music Center agreement – Brown County Democrat. Brown County Commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday, Aug. 19, to investigate legal options involving the Brown County Music Center’s administrative agreement.
Despite the findings, the audit does not show that Brown County as a whole was out of money. The county’s General Fund began 2025 with about $3.46 million and ended the year with about $4.31 million.
A written response included with the audit, dated July 23, was signed by Commissioner President Tim Clark, County Council President Darren Byrd, County Auditor Julia Reeves and County Treasurer Andrea Bond. The
officials acknowledged that the repeat findings were accurate and required corrective action. They said Brown County intends to submit corrective action plans to the State Board of Accounts by Dec. 15.
The commissioners decided to keep two advanced life support ambulances instead of reducing the service. Advanced life support crews can provide a higher level of emergency treatment than basic crews. Commissioner Kevin Patrick said there was not enough time to design a different system for 2027 without risking a drop in service.
The commissioners do plan to require better information from the ambulance provider, including the number of runs, response times and the areas served. Other service models may be studied, but Patrick said a major change could take one or two years.
Commissioner Tim Clark said he had no issue using the money for Helmsburg infrastructure. He said the county had previously used some sock factory money for a Helmsburg stormwater project and has also supported sewer districts with ARPA funding. Clark said Helmsburg received $339,489.72 in ARPA money, while the Brown County Regional Sewer
District received $300,000.
The commission reviewed a memorandum of understanding with the Brown County Commissioners. The agreement is meant to set out how the two bodies would work together on the comprehensive plan. The county has already spent time on the plan, but commissioners have wanted more involvement and more public engagement before moving forward.
Brown County among the top 5 in the state on median home prices. “Scenics & Amenities Premium: Brown County and Monroe County stand out in Southern Indiana, commanding high median prices due to limited real estate inventory, scenic topography, and proximity to Indiana University.”
A map displayed at the Mountain Tea State Forest public information meeting shows the access routes studied by the Indiana Department of Transportation…
July 24, 2026. Commissioners back Deam expansion letter in split vote – Brown County Democrat. Jeff Stant, Hoosier National Forest program adviser for the Indiana Forest Alliance, gave commissioners a recap of the proposal and responded to …
Additional comment: Commissioner Sanders and I voted Yes on the Letter of Support. Commissioner Patrick voted No with the position of leaving the area as it is. The proposed legislation will be subject to debate in the House and Senate. A primary argument against it is that designating a “Wilderness Area” prevents forest management, including some logging, which helps mitigate fires and leads to the planting of higher-quality trees such as White Oak. There are also advocates for reducing federal and state-owned land that can be better utilized by the private sector.
Over half of the land in Brown County is non-taxable and includes land owned by the Federal and State Governments and non-profits. Land can also be placed in the “classified forest category,” which reduces property tax. Although half the land is non-taxable, this feature retains and attracts new residents as well as visitors to Brown County.
Income and property tax are major sources of revenue for the county. The county’s tax policy is a high income tax rate (among the highest in the State) and low property tax (among the lowest in the State). On taxable income, tourism accounts for around 20 million in gross wages. The Adjusted Gross Income of all residents is over 500 million.
July 17, 2026. Election lawsuit drives new $50K legal funding request – Brown County Democrat. Banks said the lawsuit, which is now before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, has already used up the legal money set aside for the …
The Issue (tjc): Can a county government election board (funded with tax dollars) enforce the application of arbitrary and discriminatory rules of a self-described political club (local Republican Party)? Is the state/county exempt from the Constitution and complaince with the 1st and 14th amendments? This case has the potential of being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
County Council: Tourism spending vs Public Safety State to hold information meeting for Pumpkin Ridge Road project – The Republic News
The Republic News
The meeting will take place at Abe Martin Lodge in Melodeon Hall, 1405 IN-46 West Nashville … Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268. Featured Local …INDOT, DNR to host public information meeting for Mountain Tea State Forest access … – WBIW
WBIW
BROWN COUNTY – The Indiana Department of … The project aims to enhance safety and accessibility along Pumpkin Ridge Road, located in …
Brown County Commissioner Tim Clark said he does not have any comment to provide at this time; he said he is in the process of collecting and analyzing data to better understand the challenges the departments are facing. Nashville Town Manager Sandie Jones declined a request for interview
The discussion then shifted to the county’s long-delayed comprehensive plan, where it became clear there is still uncertainty about how to move forward. Commission members said they have been working on a draft plan for years, but county commissioners have indicated they want changes and more public input before adopting it. That has left the process in limbo, with no final document in place to guide zoning decisions. Some members expressed frustration that the work already completed may not be enough on its own.
Several members also emphasized that the commissioners appear to want broader public involvement and potentially a revised version of the plan, rather than simply adopting the draft as written. A joint meeting between the plan commission and county commissioners is now scheduled for next month to discuss next steps and determine whether the existing draft will be revised or replaced altogether. That will be the only item on the Plan Commission’s next agenda in April.
Andi Rogers-Bartels, who owns multiple restaurants, rental properties and retail spaces in Nashville, said she wanted to serve on the CVC to help ensure tourism dollars are used in ways that benefit both visitors and residents. She pointed to the recent increase in the innkeeper’s tax and said, “It’s going to be an important year with the new three percent raise in the tax. We really need to figure out what we as a community want and what we can do with that extra three percent.” She cautioned against simply shifting entire budgets between departments, telling the council, “It can’t just be a whole move of the budget from one entity to another. It’s got to be dissected and looked at a little closer.”
Jan 13, 2026. County Council Meeting (Jan 8, 2026). County Council rehashes 2026 budget after process breakdowns, January 13, 2026 by Courtney Hughett.
From 2012 to 2018, residential assessed values increased by less than 4% per year. But beginning in 2019, annual increases exceeded 8%, fueled largely by rapid growth in home market values that far outpaced other property types. As market values surged, the property tax burden shifted disproportionately onto homeowners.
To rebalance the system, SEA 1 phases in an increase to the homeowners’ deduction, ultimately allowing homeowners to deduct 67% of their home’s market value by 2031. At that point, homeowners will pay taxes on only 33% of their home’s assessed value. This phased-in change will gradually shift some of the tax burden back to other property classes, restoring balance to the system.
Commissioner Meeting Agendas: You can sign up at the county website to have these sent to you via email. They are generally available the day before the meetings. Commissioners meet every first Wednesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. and on the third Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
Brown County Democrat Newspaper.Publishes government meeting schedules. Reporter Courtney Hughett provides extensive coverage of what was discussed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI tools like Google Gemini can be used to provide analysis and summaries of the meetings. The tool can also inform you of how to prompt for the information you are requesting.
Preliminary work was done on an update to the county comprehensive plan (cost around 37K). The update process was limited to two public meetings at different locations, on the same day and a survey. Link to the draft and current version below:
Commissioners declined to approve the Draft without more community engagement to include identifying “communities” within the county. Coud developing and perhaps testing an agenda for future public meetings be helpful to identify the scope of desired changes?
Brown County — Historical, Cultural and Economic Context
Summary. Brown County, is known for its scenic beauty and natural terrain, and as the most heavily forested county in Indiana. Tourism generates approximately $21 million in gross wages and accounts for about 10% of the county’s GDP. Total taxable income on tax returns exceeds $510 million. Approximately 77% of residents’ income is earned outside the county. Although more than half of the land is federally or state-owned, thereby reducing the property tax base, this characteristic enhances the county’s appeal to visitors and current and future residents.
History — Rural, Brown County State Park, Artist Colony, Bedroom Community
Brown County is a bedroom, retirement, work from home county with tourism where residents desire a more rural lifestyle. (We have 4 stoplights in the county (the 4th was just added last year (2025).
Residents want to live here but generate their income (77%) from outside the county. Tourism accounts for around 21 million in gross wages. The Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of all residents is over 510 million.
Our tax policy is high income (among the highest in the state) and low property (among the lowest in the state.). Our GDP is around 362 million and the total for surrounding counties is around 30 million. Tourism accounts for around 40 million in GDP.
Lower property tax supports second homes and tourist rentals.
Schools. Declining enrollment has been systemic.
Home Costs and Affordability. Demand and availability of buildable land have increased median home values that exceed what is affordable fort those at the more modest income levels. Affordability defined as spending no more than 30% of pre-tax income on housing.
A New Path for Brown County. A Hypothesis for a Modern Plan for growth and Economic Development in Brown County, Indiana, By Chris Schneider – December 5th, 2024
10 Secluded Towns Lost in the Hills of Indiana’s Rugged Brown County Region: Elkinsville, Cornelius, Gatesville, Stone Head, Trevlac, Gnaw Bone, Helmsburg, Bean Blossom, Story, Nashville,
Not included: Cordry and Sweetwater Lakes
Jobs:
Total (2023): 3840; Tourism Related: 1,026
Total Tax Returns Filed: 7,302 (2023).
Residents paying tax – no job: 3,462.
Wages:
“Brown County is more typical: 32% of the earnings generated in the county flow out while 77% of the earnings realized by local residents originate elsewhere.
Brown County is among the eight in the “high wage increase and high job growth corner,” which leads to prioritizing economic development resources where the market indicates they are best used.
Economic Development – Subsidies, Abatements, Tax Increment Financing.
The county has nothad to subsidize a developer for a project. An abatement (400K) was offered (never used) to the previous owner of the Little Opry to help finance wastewater treatment for a new music venue. Rebuilding the Little Opry with private money was not feasible.
The state did approve a 39 million dollar concept to provide sewer service along a corridor that runs from Lake Lemon, Trevlac, Helmsburg to Bean Blossom and Woodland Lake. Priority is service in Bean Blossom (about 200 homes), a new plant in Helmsburg, and then extending service to Lake Lemon.
:
Medical Services.
No hospital or 24×7 Urgent Care Facility. Hospitals and urgent care available in surrounding counties.
Medical services provided by two ambulances that serve residents and tourists.
Medical treatment can also be provided by volunteer firefighters and EMTs if/when they may be available.
Four Main Principles (Elements). It is important that this comprehensive plan explain the principles (elements) that should be followed when making decisions and alsothe relative importance of each principle, as this will help those who must make difficult decisions. This will be especially important in those situations where a decision must balance competing principles. (Ref: Brown County Comprehensive Plan, 2011 Revision).
“Criteria” (Four Main Elements (Principles)
Preserves – Natural Features and Way of Life
Discourages Economic Decline (One Side of the Coin)
Fosters Economic Development (Other side of the Coin)
Enhances the desirability of Brown County as a place to live in retirement should also be protected, when possible
3. Need: Decision Criteria – Weighted Decision Matrix – to assess (score) “Relative Importance of each principle.”
Internal Controls – Prevention of Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Mismanagement. Both the state and federal governments have Internal control-related statutes, policies, and processes to provide assurance to citizens that tax dollars are used effectively and efficiently.
County – Need for a Management Internal Control Program (MICO). Unfortunately, at the County level, the State Board of Accounts’ (SBOA) scope of review of internal controls is primarily focused on finances rather than operations. Compliance by county offices is generally voluntary. This puts the burden on county citizens to expect the county to develop and review internal controls, including providing an annual statement of assurance that the controls are adequate and identifies the need for a County Management Internal Control Program (MICP).
Credit Rating:The two-notch downgrade reflects our view of heightened vulnerability in management following continuous and numerous internal control findings.
Audit Report: Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In our opinion, because of the significance of the matter discussed in the Basis for Adverse and Unmodified Opinions section of our report, the financial statement referred to above does not present fairly, the financial position and results of operations of the County as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Audit Report: Opinion on “Regulatory” Basis of Accounting (1)
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position and results of operations of the County, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, in accordance with the financial reporting provisions of the Indiana State Board of Accounts described in Note 1.
This is a special investigation report for the Brown County (County) Surveyor’s Office, for the period November 1, 2018 to December 31, 2024, and is in addition to any other report for the County as required under Indiana Code 5-11-1. All reports pertaining to the County may be found at http://www.in.gov/sboa/.
We performed procedures to determine compliance with applicable Indiana laws and uniform compliance guidelines established by the Indiana State Board of Accounts and were limited to records associated with the Surveyor’s Corner Perpetuation Fund. The Results and Comments contained herein describe the identified reportable instances of noncompliance found as a result of these procedures. Our tests were not designed to identify all instances of noncompliance; therefore, noncompliance may exist that is unidentified.
“The Green Book may also be adopted by state, local, and quasi-governmental entities, as well as not-for-profit organizations, as a framework for an internal control system.”
Counties. “Internal controls are designed by the county offices based on the identified risks of not achieving their objectives and the available resources to address those risks.”
Federal. At the federal level, statutes and policies include the following:
With litigation pending before the Indiana Supreme Court and a state law under challenge, the council’s decision may hint at how Bloomington will have to grow in the future — lot by lot — if the city doesn’t prevail in annexation-related court cases.
Vernon the state’s last charter town: In a state where every other municipality operates under uniform state statute, Vernon remains Indiana’s lone charter town, governed by an incorporation act approved on Jan. 22, 1851. (Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle)
“The commissioners have supplied the humane society with $50,000 per year with no contract for the past three years. The monies were extended to the end of this year as a gesture of good faith.
“The taxpayers of DeKalb County deserve to know how and where their monies are being spent,” Miller’s prepared statement concluded.
The project drew fierce opposition from residents once they learned of potential costs. While homeowners were initially told monthly costs would be less than $100, county commissioners say that figure climbed closer to $200 after the board failed to secure federal grant funding.On October 31, IDEM determined the district must be dissolved, citing the project as economically unfeasible, unfair, and unreasonable due to project changes, delays, and resident cost concerns.
“Bureau of Labor Statistics information, unadjusted for inflation, shows how each Indiana county did in the past 10 years in terms of job growth and wage increases.”
Informative article! Notably, Brown County is among the eight in the “high wage increase and high job growth corner,” which leads to prioritizing economic development resources where the market indicates they are best used.
However, note in the article that you get a big percent change when your base is low, and your increase in amount is average. $10 increase is big stuff when your base is $15, but it’s much smaller when your base is $80.” So, a little more research is needed.
In his article, “Dollars on the Move,” Morton Marcus reported: “Brown County is more typical: 32% of the earnings generated in the county flow out while 77% of the earnings realized by local residents originate elsewhere.”
Brown County is a bedroom, retirement, and work-from-home community with a tourism industry, where residents seek a more rural (country) lifestyle.
The amenities provided by tourism businesses enhance the quality of life and make a modest contribution to the economic base.
For instance, Tourism accounts for approximately $21 million in gross wages, and the adjusted gross income of all residents filing tax returns exceeds $510 million. The county’s primary sources of revenue are from income tax (among the highest rates in the state) and property tax (among the lowest rates).
Ball State economists reinforced that our best bets for economic growth are Housing (bedroom + community), Recreation, Wholesale, Production, and Retail.
“Rich Stanley also addressed the council, identifying himself as a candidate for commissioner in 2026 if his federal lawsuit against the Brown County Election Board succeeds. Stanley said the Music Center “is a public asset that only exists due to the taxing authority of the county,” and urged two changes which are to make four of the seven governing board seats elected officials and send 100 percent of the profit back to the county. “Public assets should not be turned over to private business interests,” he said, adding that he opposes selling the venue but wants profits used to offset county costs.”
The council did not support any changes to the current agreements. Councilman Rudd did not commit one way or the other.
Another option: Instead of 4 of the 7 board members being elected officials, these could be direct appointments by the elected officials.
Background Information on the approval of the project:
The State of Indiana allows counties, through a third party, to borrow money to fund buildings such as the Brown County Jail and the Brown County (Maple Leaf) Music Center. A non-profit is established along with a board to manage the building and the required lease payments. At the end of the lease, the buidling is transferred to the county.
The required lease payments are included in the county’s annual budget, which is reviewed and approved by the state. For the Music Center, the total amount borrowed was $12.5 million.
Political Context: The county has a one-party monopoly (R) on political power. The local party influences who can run for office, be appointed to boards and commissions, and even obtain and keep a county government job. Consequently, loyalty to the party and its agenda can too often take precedence over supporting candidates and policies that could produce better results for the county.
Preview of seats open in the 2026 election. Candidates can begin filing for candidacy in the 2026 Primary Election on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, through Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, until noon. Includes the Auditor position and four (4) council seats.
2026 Elections
Auditor: Julia Reeves is finishing two four-year terms and is not running for 3rd term.
Expectations for qualifications? Experience with developing, changing, and managing government (county) budgets. Knowledge of basic accounting to include the difference between cash and accrual, fund accounting, auditing, and managerial accounting.
Curious and the desire to learn. Ability to apply what is learned to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations. County finance and accounting differ significantly from private-sector accounting. There will likely be a learning curve.
Council seats up for election in 2026: Huett, Byrd, Kirby, Kemp
District 1. Gary Huett: Appointed to the council in 2019. Elected in 2022-26.
District 2. Darren Byrd: elected 2014? 2018, 2022-26.
District 3: Joel Kirby: Elected 2022-26
District 4: Jim Kemp: Elected 2022-26
At-large: Patrick Nielander: 2024-2028
At large: Judy-Swift Powdrill: 2024-2028
At large: Scott Rudd: elected 2020 (at large) and 2024. (Possibly (?) running for commissioner, District 2 in 2026).
Commissioner Seats up for election in 2026: District 2 – Ron Sanders
Audit Reports-Sept 16 ,2025 – State Board of Accounts
15840A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT REPORT OF BROWN COUNTY, INDIANA January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.
Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In our opinion, because of the significance of the matter discussed in the Basis for Adverse and Unmodified Opinions section of our report, the financial statement referred to above does not present fairly, the financial position and results of operations of the County as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Opinion on “Regulatory” Basis of Accounting (1)
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position and results of operations of the County, as of and for the year
ended December 31, 2024, in accordance with the financial reporting provisions of the Indiana State Board
of Accounts described in Note 1.
15840S SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLIANCE REPORT OF BROWN COUNTY, INDIANA
January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Internal control deficiencies resulted in noncompliance with laws and regulations over the following areas:
Annual Financial Report
Reconcilement of the Monthly Financial Statement (Form 61)
Timely Recording
Capital Assets
Overdrawn Cash Balances
Training on Internal Control Standards
