By Desiree Williams
The Zionsville Town Council met March 20 to consider establishing a public safety local income tax fund and implementing a promotional fund.
The council held a first reading to introduce an ordinance that calls for moving nearly $1.1 million from the police operating fund, fire operating fund and cumulative fire equipment fund to a new LIT fund. It also will include appropriations to reimburse the police and fire operating funds. A new LIT tax for public safety went into effect in Boone County Jan. 1.
“It’s basically a wash,” Deputy Mayor Ed Mitro said. “You’re taking X amount of dollars out of the general fund and putting it in the LIT fund. It’s the same amount of money. It’s the same budget.”
The fund will become part of the annual budget process when it’s approved, and the council will be able to reevaluate the fund each year. The council will hold a second reading on the ordinance at its next meeting.
On recommendation from the safety board, the council also approved an amendment to the traffic code to prohibit on-street parking on a section of Clarkston Road in the Coventry Ridge subdivision.
In a 4-1 vote, with councilor Susana Suarez in opposition, the council adopted an ordinance to create a promotional fund for the town and its economic development. The fund will finance marketing and promotional materials such as pens, binders, plaques and other items to give away to various groups or sell. The ordinance covers a broad spectrum of possible promotional efforts but also gives the council liberty to track spending and deny funds if necessary.
The council also passed a resolution to transfer money from the general fund to the promotional fund. Officials asked for $5,000 to open the fund. Mitro said it should not exceed that amount in the future.
The next town council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 10.
