By Maria Cook
The City of Carmel is seeking volunteers to fill four positions on the Home Place Advisory Board, which will advise the city on how to spend taxes impounded in a fund created when Carmel annexed Home Place.
The advisory board is required by state law. City of Carmel spokesperson Dan McFeely said the law gives Home Place residents a voice in how their tax dollars are spent.
“The intent was that when you annex and the new taxes from annexation exceed the cost of providing services to the new area, the landowners should have a forum for input on how the excess revenue will be spent,” McFeely said.
Some advisory board positions must be filled by specific individuals. For example, a township trustee and a Carmel engineer must sit on the board. But there are also four citizen member positions that can be filled by any Home Place residents. Two of these positions must be appointed by the mayor, while the other two must be appointed by the Hamilton County Commissioners. The positions are voluntary and will not receive any salary.
There are no specific rules for how often the Home Place Advisory Board must meet. It is likely that the board will not have regular recurring meetings but will meet only when there is a need.
Those interested in applying to the board should email Sharon Kibbe at [email protected]. Emails should include a resume and a cover letter. Applications are due by June 25.
The Home Place Advisory Board must consist of:
- The township trustee
- The member of the Hamilton County Council that represents the largest number of residents living in Home Place
- The Carmel city engineer
- Two citizen members appointed by the mayor
- Two citizen members appointed by the Hamilton County Commissioners
