When the state of Indiana authorized the distribution of Local Option Income Tax (LOIT) money owed to local governments throughout the state last year, Fishers received $9.5 million from state coffers. The Fishers City Council Finance Committee approved a resolution Wednesday recommending the full council appropriate $7.1 million of that money aimed at infrastructure projects throughout the city.
Initially, Mayor Scott Fadness had taken a go-slow approach to how the funds should be utilized. This action will allow the city to dip into that cash for various projects throughout the city.
A public hearing on the appropriation will be held at the next city council meeting schedule for April 17th.
In another matter, City Controller Oscar Gutierrez told the Finance Committee the E911 board is taking the position that updated Fishers census figures will not be used to distribute funds unless state lawmakers act. The distributions supporting the E911 service are made to municipalities by population numbers. Unless the legislature takes action, the E911 board will use the lower Fishers census figures from 2010. Fishers paid for a special census which showed a spike in population since the last regular census in 2010. The census from 2010 showed a Fishers population of 76,880. The special census completed in 2016 showed a city population of 86,459.