Some significant changes happening throughout the county and region.

Can an alignment of regional and county initiatives lead to more employers and higher paying careers, a higher quality of life in our community and an increase in career opportunities for our students? (See below – ROI, Ready Communities and Ready Schools).

The unplanned growth and change in the county are reinforcing long-term concerns of gentrification and questioning the motives of those that are advocating for these changes.  (Unplanned means that the changes are not identified in any published plans to include the county comprehensive plan.  A draft of the county economic development strategic plan will be discussed on Juen 12, 2019, BC Playhouse, 6:00 p.m.

• Gentrification. Defined as demand in an area that attracts wealthier residents and investors that lead to changes that increase the cost of living to the extent that previous residents can no longer afford to live in the area.
  • This concern was identified in the needs assessment – Unique and Challenging Demographics that was conducted in support of the Vision 2010/2020 initiative.
• Who Benefits? Would include local developers, realtors, the local government that collects more tax revenue.  Changes can lead to increased economic activity and decreased crime rates. In Brown County, local developers include those representing the tourism industry.

RDC 2019 Initiatives.  In addition to the Economic Plan, priority for the RDC includes an initiative to address “Salvage Yards, Blight, and Squalor.”  This will include addressing junked and abandoned vehicles.  (Source: Area Plan Commission (APC) meeting, May 28, 2019.   Kemp expects participation from the Health Dept, Health Board, APC. BCRSD, Schools, Keep BC Beautiful, Recycle Center, etc. Kemp already has the support of the commissioners and council and leadership in the local Republican party. Expect an increase in property taxes to finance the legal bills and clean up costs.

Income Trends -Since 1999, there has been a downward trend in the number of residents reporting income under $50,000 and an upward trend in the number of residents reporting income over $50,000.  Overall, a downward trend in the number of residents filing returns.

• State Tax Returns —  Income Trends by Category 1999 – 2016

United Way – Poverty Rates.  In Brown County, 1 of every 5 children lives in poverty, and 1 of every 3 households struggles to afford the basic necessities, including food.  (Source:  Kids Count in Indiana 2017 Data Book, the calendar year 2015 and United Way ALICE Report—2016 Update for Indiana)

Low to Moderate Income (LMI).  A countywide income survey completed in 2017 identified an LMI level at 53.1% which qualified the county for federal planning grants.  The county is currently working on creating an economic development strategic plan.

Econ Development Strategic Plan – Timeline. Scheduled Presentations of the Economic Plan at the Playhouse:

• June 12– Jim Kemp & Thomas P. Miller review draft of Economic Plan
• Nov 13 –Review Final Economic Development Plan

Higher assessed values, higher property taxes. The 2018 Assessed Values (taxes payable in 2019) increased significantly from the prior years.  Since 2012, assessments have increases from 7 – 16 % throughout the county with the exception being Nashville whose major industry is tourism.  Nashville’s assessed value decreases by 1%.   Assessed Values 2012-2019

State Property Tax System. The system can result in yearly increases in assessments and taxes. Citizen’s Guide to Property Tax

Useful Life of Septic Systems  –Policies – County and Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD).  What will be the impact on buyers and sellers of real estate in the County?   Information to consider before purchasing a home in Brown County

Higher Cost of Utilities. 

• Proposed $7.3 million Bean Blossom Sewer Project – –  Sewer bill estimated to range from $65.00 to 85.00. Hook-up fee up to $2,500.

  • Regional Sewer Board – Bean Blossom Sewer Project – For the Record

• Water. ” Nashville Utilities would see a 154 percent rate increase”…

  • • Water utility requesting rate changes, Sara Clifford – Apr. 23, 2019. Brown County Water Utility is proposing changes to its water rates that could more than double water bills for Nashville Utility customers.

• “Environment.”   Attempts are being made to link water quality with failing septic systems.  There is no evidence (reports on file) of any failed septic systems.  Tests are being conducted to determine if e-Coli in creeks and lakes are due to human or animal contamination.

Higher Taxes.  The Proposed $10-12 million Justice Center and Historic Courthouse Re-purpose/Renovation.  Will lead to more debt and higher property taxes on fewer residents over the term of the loan.

• • Proposed Justice Center and Historic Courthouse – For the Record

Higher Costs.  See above – Salvage Yards, Blight, Squalor.   Will require more expense on residents or taxpayers when residents cannot afford to comply with any existing or new ordinances.  Failure or inability to pay fines can result in liens.

• Boards starting to talk about vehicles, property cleanup, Sara Clifford –  Two Brown County boards have begun talking about topics that they know will probably become hot ones: what to do about abandoned vehicles, and how to “preserve and protect our natural environment” in a county that is sensitive to edicts about personal property use.
  • Boards – Redevelopment Commission (RDC) and Area Plan Commission (APC)

County Five Year Financial Plan 2016-2021. Identifies the county is near maxed out on raising income taxes and raising new revenue will require increases in property taxes.

Regional Economic and Community Development Initiatives.

• Regional Opportunity Initiative (ROI). Regional effort to improve local and regional economies.    The region includes an 11-county area that encompasses Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen and Washington counties.

• • Marketing Regional “Brand” —  Indiana Uplands.
  • ROI – Ready Schools Grant: SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER: What the ROI means to Brown Brown County Schools. Aug 8, 2017 – By LAURA HAMMACK, guest columnist Brown County Schools recently received some pretty incredible news. After the submission of a comprehensive grant application and a second-round interview process, Brown County Schools was named a Ready School from the Regional Opportunities Initiative Inc.
  • Brown County – Ready Communities

Brown County Leadership Cooperative (BCLC).   The county applied and received a grant in 2017 to participate in the Hometown Collaborative Initiative (HCI).  The team is currently working to complete the Capstone Project to validate a proof of concept for supporting and improving leadership capabilities.

Helmsburg Revitalization – Community Led.   A positive example of leaders in a community taking action to determine what they want and do not want in terms of community and economic development.

Community Focus for 2019

• January 23–Quality of Place and Workforce Town Hall
• April 10–“The survey says and the opportunities are…” Results from the Quality of Place Workforce Plan survey
• June 12–Our Valuable Resources and our Economic Plan
  • Our Children –Dr. Hammack presents the annual State of Schools Report
  • Our Economic Stability –Jim Kemp & Thomas P. Miller review draft of Economic Plan
• Aug 14 –Preserving Our Environment –Protecting and managing our environment including infrastructure and environmental challenges and plans
• Nov 13 –Review Final Economic Development Plan

Link to Brown County Matters Facebook Post.

Election Board Agenda May 9 2019 Meeting

Location:  “Makers Space” at the Junior High School, 95 School House Lane

• May 23 @ 6:00
• JUNE 12 – Playhouse 6:00 PM – Draft Econ Plan
• June 27 @ 6:00
• July 25 @ 6:00
• Aug. 22 @ 6:00
• Sept. 26 @ 6:00
• Oct. 24 @ 6:00
• NOV 13 –Review Final Economic Development Plan – Playhouse 6:00 P.M
• Nov. 28 @ 6:00
• Dec. 26 @ 6:00  (that may need to be adjusted due to proximity to the holidays)

Apr 9, 2019, BCD, Staff Reports. Former highway leader shares concerns about gravel roads

Former highway superintendent Ron Fleetwood presented a slideshow on the condition of gravel roads in Van Buren Township at the Brown County Commissioners meeting March 20.

“You’d like to blame the condition on the road on wet weather,” he said. “It’s that way all summer. The same thing happens in the same place all the time.”

Fleetwood showed photos of Elkinsville and Blue Creek roads with potholes, culvert, ditch and berm issues.

“I understand it’s a gravel road. I hear people say they knew it was gravel when they moved there, but they have the right to expect to have a reasonably well maintained road,” he said.

He also showed a photo of a wooden bridge on Blue Creek Road that was covered in mud.

“If that bridge fails, there’s no way for emergency services or anybody to get there. That bridge definitely needs to be cleaned off,” he said.

Fleetwood said he has gone out to the gravel roads two days after they are graded and the potholes are back because they are not cut out by highway department crews and are filled with loose material only.

“If we had money upfront to pave all the roads, it would be cheaper to maintain them than gravel roads,” commissioner Jerry Pittman said. “Those left with gravel are more expensive to maintain and more expensive for people to drive on. Until we find $30 million to finish paving the roads, we’re stuck with taking care of the gravel roads.”

Pittman said he spoke with Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner about getting gravel crowns back onto the roads in Van Buren Township. Magner, who sat through Fleetwood’s presentation, said he would work on that.

Brown County Road Paving Plans and Examples from other counties

Road and Bridge Maintenance Information

Capital Improvement Plans and Budgets

Aug 15, 2019. BCD Bridge inspection report: More than $9 million in work needed to replace bridges over… by Suzannah Couch.  Brown County is looking at more than $9 million worth of bridge work needing to be done in the next nine years …

Helmsburg RSD rates are the highest in the county at $92.50. Helmsburg needs more customers.

Bean Blossom has not had enough customers to support a plant of their own and had to expand their proposed service area to include Woodland Lake, Freeman Ridge and Little Fox Lake.  The proposed plan by the BCRSD Board for a $7.3 million wastewater treatment plant in Bean Blossom does not address county-wide needs to include a plan for Helmsburg.  Commissioner Jerry Pittman took the initiative to facilitate joint meetings of the RSDs to discuss needs and areas of concern.

• HRSD – Helmsburg Regional Sewer District (HRSD) Board
• BCRSD – Brown County Regional Sewer District (GRSD) Board
• NRSD – Nashville Regional Sewer District Board
• BC – Brown County

Apr 30, 2019 HRSD Board Meeting. 

• Passed the resolution for the rate change to $92.50.
• HRSD Proposed Options v2 2019_05_01 Presented by Bill Austin. Includes an additional option: Funding to be proposed for a $600,000 OCRA Grant including $60,000 for engineering study via County Council.

April 9, 2019.  HRSD Proposed Options version 1  20190401 Presented by Bill Austin, at the BCRSD Board Meeting.

April 4, 2019.  “First” Joint Meeting of County RSDs. Joint Meeting – Brown County Areas Sewer Boards 2019_04_01

• Nashville identified that “annexation”  would be used for areas such as Annadale, that want sewer service.  Note the annexation requirement was proposed by Nashville for providing service to Bean Blossom area residents. The Nashville proposal was rejected by the BCRSD Board at the time.

March 25,2019.  Helmsburg RSD Special Meeting 2019_03_25

• Commissioner Pittman offered to facilitate a Joint Meeting of the RSDs – offer was accepted by the HRSD Board.

March 18, 2019 – HRSD Meeting Minutes.2019_03_18 HRSD Meeting Minutes

Brown County Road Paving Plans

• ROAD PAVING PLAN 2018-2020
• ROAD PAVING PLAN 2015-2017 COMPLETED

Example of Plans: Washington County, OR

• Annual Road Maintenance Program
• Draft – Bridge Maintenance Program
• The Washington County Transportation System Plan (TSP) is a component of the Washington County Comprehensive Plan that defines the transportation system desired for the future and how it can be achieved.

A five-year trend on assessments and taxes for property owners is available at the following: https://brownin.wthgis.com.

I contacted the vendor WTHGIS to see if I can get a copy of the file to support the analysis of trends.   I’ve had two offers from major organizations to provide analytical support on a pro-bono basis (for free) to help identify our challenges and opportunities.

In the interim in order to learn more about assessments, I pulled data from the State on the trends from 2012 to 2019 on “Adjusted Net Assessed Valuation.”  Assessed values can correlate to revenue collected from property taxes.   (I’m researching the issue with the intent to develop an article for the Brown County Democrat).

Initial Analysis.  Assessed Values 2012-2019

Assessed values increased from a range of 7% to 16% “EXCEPT” for the Town of Nashville where assessed values decreased by 1%.

More Information on context:

April 9, 2019. BCD, Property tax bills are in the mail by Sara Clifford.  A property’s assessed value is one of the figures used to calculate a tax bill. … Overall, the net assessed value of property across all of Brown County — the taxable value after exemptions are subtracted — has grown by $35.5 million since tax year 2017.

Citizens Guide to Property Tax “Local spending is the reason for property tax rate increases – or decreases – depending on local fiscal management.”

Jan 30, 2018. Brown County uses a contractor to develop assessments – Nexus contract

Information – Links to other Counties

• Assessors Office – Newton County – (Population 14K).  Includes links to their Facebook Page
• Tippecanoe County -Access Property Tax & Assessment Records.  They use Beacon GIS Software
  • Assessment Process – Commercial and Industrial Properties
  • DLGF Beacon Basic
• DLGF Fact Sheet (2014) – Annual Adjustment of Assessed Values