Guthrie Township remains without advisory board to approve budget in 2024
LEESIVILLE - SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 - Guthrie Township remains without an advisory board after no one ran for the three member advisory board in the 2022 election.
In fact, no one ran for the township offices in 2023.
The advisory board approves the budget for township government and provides oversight of the township trustee.
Photo: Guthrie Township voted to establish a fire territory in 2022
In January of this year the Lawrence County Commissioners appointed Guthrie Township Trustee Stacie Ratliff, advisory board members Angela Myers, and Brooke Horner Hayes to the township offices. However, Myers and Hayes submitted their resignations and declined the appointment.
Nick Hubbard a third advisory board member submitted his resignation prior to the January meeting.
The last huge action by the township was to join the Lawrence County Fire Territory in 2022.
" This is a huge step in the right direction many fire departments have closed their doors," said Nick Hubbard Guthrie in approving the township joining the fire territory.
Guthrie Township had the biggest tax implications of joining the fire territory.
Proposed Fire Territory tax impact:
General Fund: Budget: $673,290 Tax Levy: $630,000 Projected Tax Rate: - .2493
Cumulative Fire Fund: Budget: $78,000 Tax Levy: $84,139 Projected Tax Rate: .0333
Debt Fund: Budget: $82,800 Tax Levy: $89,872 Projected Tax Rate: .0356
Totals: Budget: $834,090 Tax Levy: $804,011 Projected Tax Rate: .3182
Taxpayers Monthly Impact
Residential - $50,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $1.76 Guthrie Twp. $1.95
Residential - $100,000 Assessed Value Shawsick Twp. $5.76 Guthrie Twp. $6.40
Residential - $150,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $11.47 Guthrie Twp. $12.75
Agriculture - $100,0000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $17.57 Guthrie Twp. $19.54
Agriculture - $200,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $35.15 Guthrie Twp. $39.08
Agriculture - $250,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $43,93 Guthrie Twp. $48.86
Commercial - $100,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $17.57 Guthrie Twp. $19.54
Commercial -$200,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $35.15 Guthrie Twp. $39.08
Commercial - $300,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $52.72 Guthrie Twp. $58.63
Projected Overlapping Unit Impact on Local Income Tax
Lawrence County Impact from Local Income Tax - loss of $51,201
Bono Township - loss of $48
Guthrie Township - loss of $16,809
Indian Creek Township - loss of $281
Marion Township -loss of $874
Marshall Township - loss of $496
Perry Township -loss of $189
Pleasant Run Township - loss of $271
Shawswick Township - gain of $112,611
Spice Valley Township - loss of $273
Bedford Civil City - loss of $45,234
Mitchell Civil City - loss of $7,247
Oolitic Civil Town - loss of $765
North Lawrence Community School Corporation - Loss of $5,273
Mitchell Community Schools - loss of $2,833
Bedford Public Library - loss of $6,620
Mitchell Community Public Library - Loss of $1,718
Lawrence County Solid Waste District - Loss of $6,197
Both Bono and Guthrie townships were proposed to be merged into other townships by the Indiana legislature a few years back, however the legislation failed.
A report recently released by Indiana Township Association, a non - profit has recently released recommendations for Indiana Townships to increase their effectiveness.
The Lawrence County Zephyr will feature the report in another story.
The question remain, should Guthrie Township be abolished and merge into another township and how will the lack of an advisory board affect the 2024 budget for taxpayers?
For breaking news, news and information go to lczephyr.org. or like/ follow the Lawrence County Facebook page.
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