A public hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 4 to discuss the proposed annexation territory in Worth Township. The fiscal plan for the annexation territory describes the proposed area as approximately 3,958 acres of real estate and 12.90 miles of streets. Existing sheriff services, road repair, water and storm sewer services would be provided by the current providers. The additional services to the territory would include the protection of the Zionsville Fire Dept.
“As part of the fiscal plan, the areas within the annexation territory will be serviced by fully staffed existing stations,” James VanGorder, Zionsville Fire Chief, said. “There are no immediate or additional acquisitions required by the ZFD as a result of the annexation.”
The Town would provide planning and zoning and other non-capital services that are absorbed by the current budget and subsidized by property taxes. The territory would be part of the rural service district within Zionsville. The town does not own or operate a water facility or provide storm water drainage services. Water services will be provided by the existing water service providers, where available, and the installation of drainage tiles, storm sewers and ditches are reviewed and implemented by the Boone County Drainage Board.
Under the annexation, the Town would regulate new developments and construction within the territory and impose new storm water regulations and installation of detention facilities to be installed by the developers. The Town will provide required services under its NPDES permit, and the costs of these services would be absorbed from the current budget until such a time the Town Council reviews a need to adopt a storm water utility fee.
Additional benefits to the annexed residents were noted by Town Council members, Candace Ulmer and Jeff Papa.
“The long term benefits are whenever you increase your assessed value, you provide services at a lower cost to the residents. If this annexation happened today, Worth residents would see an immediate reduction in their tax rate. It provides us with a more efficient way to deliver services that are fiscally prudent for both Worth Township residents and Zionsville,” Ulmer said.
“The county ordinances governing you (Worth residents) today would remain in effect. There would be no change in the school designation. It is expected that your property tax rate will be reduced by 42 percent under Zionsville’s annexation, as shown in the financial submission the Town provided to the state,” Papa said.
The public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Zionsville Town Hall.