Officials from the Department of Local Government Finance presided over a public hearing as a remonstrance was filed opposing the increase of the Marshall County Cumulative Bridge Fund.
DLGF Deputy General Counsel David Marusarz asked those in favor of the fund increase to testify on the record. Marshall County Auditor Julie Fox spoke about all of the legal procedures completed by the commissioners and her office in order to pass an ordinance that would increase the Cumulative Bridge Fund from $.0260 to $.0524 per $100 of assessed valuation. She explained that the fund has been in place since the 1980s, but was established at a much higher rate.
County Commission President Kevin Overmyer supports the fund increase. Overmyer said that the county has 117 bridges for which the commissioners are responsible. He presented a recent bridge inspection report conducted by USI Consultants that outlines the replacement or repair to those bridges through the year 2028. He noted that with the property tax caps, there isn’t enough revenue to keep up with the maintenance needed for the bridges. Overmyer stressed that bridges are essential to the county.
USI Consultant Phil Beer said that estimated annual maintenance and repair costs are approximately $1.2 million to $1.8 million and the current rate does not support the proper maintenance for public safety.
County Council member Jon Van Vactor said the Cumulative Bridge Fund will be in the red $25,500 in 2019, $1,204,600 in 2020 and $3,489,600 in 2028 if an increase is not implemented. The fund has stayed stagnant since 2004.
Approximately $600,000 will be gathered with this increase in 2019.
None of the 10 people on the remonstrance appeared during the public hearing to voice opposition to the fund increase. The remonstrance carrier, Bev Sammons, was unable to attend Wednesday’s hearing, but did say to the auditor that she plans to submit written comments to the DLGF to be included as evidence in the hearing. Written comments by those who were unable to attend may be submitted to the DLGF before Wednesday, May 16. That information is listed below.
After all of the evidence is reviewed, a recommendation will be made to the commissioner of the DLGF who will issue an order to the auditor within a reasonable time after the hearing and receive rebuttal evidence.
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Mail letters to:
Department of Local Government Finance
Indiana Government Center North Room 1058
100 N. Senate Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Email letters to:
dmarusarz@dlgf.in.gov
Fax letters to:
Attn: David Marusarz (317) 974-1629
