Reader notes population vs. debt comparison for three county cities

Dear Editor:

Year-end postings with the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance yield an interesting comparison among Fishers, Carmel and Westfield.

Fishers has about the same population as Carmel (91,832 and 92,198 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates). Westfield’s population is 39,493.

Total debt (according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance) is $1.3 billion for Carmel; $420 million for Fishers and $144 million for Westfield.

Per household, Carmel’s debt is $38,064; Fishers, $31,500 and Westfield, $12,520. If that exposure were a lien against your property, you can see how you’d net out after selling the same $300,000 home in each town, for instance.

Bill Shaffer

Carmel