October 3rd, 2019
More on Referenda, Voter Security and TIFs
It’s been a frenetic news cycle the last few days. Fortunately dozens of fall festivals and special events are scheduled for the weekend. Take solace in pumpkins, mums and funky gourds and enjoy the crisp weekend in the forecast. But before you do … 3 for Thursday. 
Part Deux . Last week we introduced our three-part series on school referenda with a bit of a history as to “how did we get here.” Today’s installment (with Hamilton Southeastern Schools CFO Mike Reuter and OneZone President Mo Merhoff) looks at the current need and implications to your local school system. Click here to watch more.
2020 Vision. With the next presidential election coming before we know it, Indiana’s Secretary of State Connie Lawson is continuing the efforts she began after 2016 in terms of assuring voter confidence. Last week she garnered $6 million from the State of Indiana to purchase voter-verifiable paper trail equipment that will show voters who they selected before officially casting the ballot. That will only cover about 10% of all Hoosier voting machines, so counties are going to have to figure out the remainder of funding by 2029. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks and Bartholomew counties will be the first to receive the voter verifiable paper trails next year. 
Old Properties, New TIF . Kite Realty is in the early phase of discussions with the City of Carmel regarding the possibility of securing tax-increment financing bonds (TIF) for its projects at 116 th and Rangeline Road (“The Corner”) as well as Hamilton Crossing. Both projects were on a trajectory of redevelopment that stalled for various reasons. Kite received rezoning in 2016 for “The Corner” for a $15 million residential and retail project and quickly demolished buildings … and then progress stopped. Meanwhile about a year ago plans for Hamilton Crossing - that included a mega-entertainment center with bowling, movies and restaurants - came to a screeching halt when a Florida-based company opted not to move forward. South of 96 th Street, they’re having the same convo with Indianapolis leaders regarding the redevelopment of Glendale Shopping Center. Stay tuned.