Shaffer: is it time yet for Carmel to reverse course?

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Dear Editor:

Carmel has reported to the Indiana Department of Local Government (by law) a series of data points that paint a very bleak picture.

Since 2011, when the state began requiring the data, these are the trends:

  • Carmel’s population grew 25 percent.
  • Carmel property tax revenue grew 138 percent.
  • Carmel’s city budget grew 97 percent.
  • Carmel’s principal debt borrowed grew 95 percent.
  • At the same time, Carmel’s municipal receipts grew 210 percent.

This is the trend voters will face when the November municipal elections roll around.

Seems like it’s time to reverse course.

Bill Shaffer
Carmel