After the Clay Township Board decided against putting a referendum for a mass transit tax on the November ballot, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard announced his plans to appoint a task force to study the issue and raise awareness.
On June 28, the township board members decided they wanted to wait until 2018 for a vote. They said they felt rushed and wanted more time to educate the public on the issue. Brainard said he fully supports the plan and agrees that waiting is best.
“We need more information for the public,” he said.
Brainard said more time to educate people would increase the likelihood that the measure would pass. For that reason, Brainard said he’s going to help work on passage in 2018.
“I’m going to appoint a task force made up of business and community leaders to study the issue and make recommendations and raise adequate funding from the private sector to communicate the advantages of why the plan makes sense,” he said.
Brainard said he feels mass transit is important for a growing city like Carmel when it comes to attracting new businesses.
The proposal was passed by Washington Township, which includes Westfield. Washington Township is now unable to hold its referendum because of Clay Township’s decision, as law requires that townships must border another township or county also holding a referendum in order to hold one.
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