IS IT TRUE that finally 10 years after GAGE realized under the leadership of Joe Wallace that Hydroplane racing was a thing of the past due to high cost and low value, the lesson seems to have sunk into the thick skulls of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau?…like cockfighting and other things that have limited appeal Hydroplane racing went the way of the albatross years ago and it took some of the dimmest minds of Evansville over ten years to wake up and smell the diesel?
IS IT TRUE last week local dignitaries and citizens alike stood on the grounds of the Old Courthouse to dedicate the green space as a Bicentennial park?  …the Old Courthouse building is over 125 years old and is seen as the symbol of Vanderburgh County and this region?  …last week the Old Courthouse Foundation in conjunction with the Vanderburgh County Commissioners officially launched Vanderburgh County, Bicentennial Park? …this new park was funded by the Old Courthouse Foundation coupled with private donations, pledges, and corporate donors? …that the Bicentennial Park is located on the green space in front of the Old Courthouse is now open to the public and provides walking paths, benches, and offers accessible tours of the Old Courthouse? …that private companies or groups can also lease this space for their use? …the Old Courthouse Foundation invites you to attend their newly launch summer “Lunch on The Lawn” events? …the downtown Bicentennial Park was not paid for out of the County Commissioners budget?  …we couldn’t be happier that the Old Courthouse Foundation made the decision to officially recognize the Bicentennial by creating this park for our community on the grounds of the Old Court House without any costs to the taxpayers?
Only seeking facts for knowledge and understanding… how can there be walking paths on the postage stamp-sized property of the old courthouse?
Let’s compare Mayor Pete to Mayor Winnecke:
South Bend Evansville
General fund Bal 1/1/19 38.9 mil 2.4 mil
Parks & Recreation 1/1/19 8.3 mil .7 mil
Golf Course 1/1/19 Combine in Parks -1.2 mil
Rainy Day 1/1/19 10.5 mil 3.0 mil
Hospitalization 1/1/19 12.0 mil -2.7 mil
The average expenditure per citizen as of 1/1/18 in South Bend is $2,100 and average in Evansville is $2,200 while the population in SB = 100,00 and Evv = 119,000 . . .however, the expenditures in SB are reported on the accrual method of accounting while Evv is on the cash basis which does not account for bills not yet paid as of year’s end . . .According to the Indiana Property tax calculator, if you lived in South Bend your tax rate would be 1.02% of your home’s value while in Evansville your tax rate is .8%. As such, a $100,000 home in Evansville will cost you $800 per year while in South Bend expect $1,020 or $220 more. Reasonable considering the tax- exempt status of Notre Dame and Holy Cross Universities, but their Local Option Income rate is only 1.0% while our’s is 1.20% . . .so, our average income per household is $37,000, you are paying $444 per year while those in SB are paying $370 or $70 less . . .so living in SB compared to Evv will cost you $150 more per year than Evansville, if your home value is $100,000
Considering SB does not have a casino and thus pays for capital improvements mostly out of their General Fund, Mayor Pete has Mayor Winnecke beat hands down. Why? Well, Mayor Pete is a grad from Harvard School of Business, majoring in Finance in addition to being a Rhoade Scholar and of course, our Mayor ‘s endeavor was Communication and Drama. To his credit (Mayor Winnecke), he has been a good promoter of our community, but eventually, he will run out of other people money, unfortunately, it is our’s!
Perhaps what we are witnessing is a substantial increase in the property tax rate. According to the Indiana Constitution, we cannot be taxed greater 1% of our fair market value. Apparently, SB limit has been reached but we have more room. So, folks not only will our water and sewer rate which Dances omitted from the analysis going up but be prepared for a 20% increase in our real estate taxes. Wow, and SB has a Democrat and we have a Republican!
Hey Dances also left out the fact that we are in the top three highest Electrical Utility Ratepayers in the nation. Of Course, our average household incomes are approx 5-6k less than Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne and South Bend. So, I’ll take the 20% greater property taxes and of course, the 5-6k greater income knowing damned well the 20% factor is on the way out . . .
Simple to fix, just appraise the properties higher. Wait…don’t tell the assessors office I said that.
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