Letter: Zionsville Town Council president responds to “old guard” letters

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Editor, 

Vote YES on reorganization.

A recent letter critiquing the Zionsville plan of reorganization and favoring the outdated status quo – including an onerous and potentially tax-heavy federal mandate – contained several points which have been addressed during the adoption process, and in numerous public forums, but bear repeating.

Currently, the town executive functions are carried out by the President of the Town Council and the Town Manager. In this structure, the council president is not selected by, or directly responsible to, the people, but is selected by the seven council members. Unless the president happens to be an at-large member of the council, 4/5 of the town are not even eligible to vote for or against that person for office. Council is a part-time position and the full-time responsibility of management of the largest town in Indiana with over 100 professional employees is better suited to a full-time Mayor who can respond to emergencies, represent our town regionally and beyond, respond to citizen problems and inquiries, and work to improve our tax base for the town, library, schools and county while preserving our unique Zionsville character. The town manager is also limited by virtue of the fact that he or she may be removed at any time by any four unhappy councilors – hardly a prescription for an effective executive office. Additionally, the town manager is not directly responsible to or selected by the citizens of our town.

The conversion of Clerk-Treasurer into a professional department under the elected Mayor does not remove a layer of accountability or independence. These functions would report to the Mayor, who is independently elected by and responsible to the people. In fact, the plan specifically states that the council and mayor may investigate one another. Additionally, with the requirement that all council measures be reviewed by (and potentially vetoed by) the Mayor, allowing additional public scrutiny, opportunities for input, and for the council and Mayor to point out any flaws or inappropriate activities, the watchdog function of the Clerk-Treasurer is enhanced by this mayoral system.

Regarding the fiscal impact analysis, the town council commissioned the fiscal review requesting a worst-case analysis for maximum transparency. The .006 cents theoretical increase assumes that there would be zero increase in assessed value, zero reduction in circuit breaker losses, and that the town council and mayor would pass a deficit budget; none of those items will occur. AV growth is strong, circuit breaker is going down, and our councils have passed not only balanced budgets, but underspent those budgets when implementing them. Additionally, almost all residences (96%) in Zionsville are currently at the tax cap and cannot see a tax increase in any case due to the reorganization. An actively engaged mayor will work to improve our misaligned tax base, reducing the tax burden on all taxpayers.

The reorganization plan eliminates four government offices and professionalizes a fifth. It adds an independent mayor, responsible to and elected by all citizens of Zionsville. It does this while allowing Zionsville to remain a town, rather than become a city (which would require massive tax increases – which are not even available – and remove the rural district freedoms we currently enjoy). The plan frees the vast majority of our rural district from a burdensome federal mandate and potential taxes regarding stormwater regulation. It removes unnecessary political party and geographic restrictions on our citizen positions on town boards and commissions.  It provides a less intrusive, more efficient local government with additional accountability and transparency to the citizens.

Zionsville is unique and innovative. Ronald Reagan taught us that “[w]e in government should learn to look at our country with the eyes of the entrepreneur, seeing possibilities where others see only problems.” Many actions are “not necessary,” but the status quo is outdated and the only choice is to slide backwards into mediocrity or embrace a uniquely Zionsville solution that moves us all forward and sets an innovative example for other communities. Zionsville can do better than status quo; I hope you’ll vote “YES” on the reorganization.

Jeff Papa, President

Zionsville Town Council


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