Clarksville Town Council FY 2027 Budget Hearing and Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026

The Clarksville Town Council held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and then its regular meeting on September 15, 2026. Clerk-Treasurer A.D. Stonecypher presented the budget, and no members of the public spoke during the hearing or signed up for public comment for the regular meeting. The council also took up the Maine and Clark bond ordinance, a rental inspection program amendment, a South Clarksville TIF allocation-area expansion, and a new non-reverting building fund.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda covered items 5.1 through 5.3: minutes of the joint town council regular meeting, work session, and executive session; town claims, current and prewritten; wastewater sewer claims; wastewater sewage bond, grant, and payroll items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No resident or audience member spoke during the FY 2027 budget public hearing, and the hearing was closed.
• No one signed up for public comment for the regular meeting.

Discussion Items

FY 2027 Budget Public Hearing

• Stonecypher said the notice to taxpayers was published on budgetnotices.in.gov on September 4, 2026, at 8:36 a.m., exceeding the required 10-day notice.
• The proposed general fund (Fund 101) budget for 2027 is $21,632,939, with $11.2 million sought through the tax levy; this was described as the largest year-over-year increase, intended to address the town's operating deficit.
• Total 2027 spending estimates across all statutory funds are $56,568,969, with a proposed levy described as 50 percent, or $28,267,310.
• Year-over-year spending would increase by 8.42 percent, while the consumer price index is stated to be around 3.5 percent.
• The budget was described as balanced but reliant on savings from the current year and reserves; Stonecypher encouraged the council to find additional savings for 2028 and beyond.
• After the hearing, 10 or more taxpayers may file an objection petition with the Clerk-Treasurer's office within seven days.

Consent Agenda and Regular Meeting Items

• The council heard about Ordinance 2026 B01, the Maine and Clark project bond ordinance. The ordinance authorizes bonds not to exceed $4.6 million, maturing no later than 25 years; the project ask is $3.8 million, with the additional amount covering bond issuance fees.
• On Ordinance 2026 G-16, amending the rental inspection program, a council member said the program did not appear to be paying dividends for the town and required more code-enforcement work than value received. The second reading was before the council; the transcript does not show a vote outcome.
• Resolution 2026 R-15 amended South Clarksville allocation area number one. Discussion noted the expansion would support the Maine and Clark development, infrastructure improvements, and future connections such as Colgate to another TIF district if needed. The council approved the resolution by a raised-hand vote.
• Ordinance 2026 G-17 creates a new non-reverting fund for building and construction related items, required by Indiana House Enrolled Act 1001 to be in place by January 1, 2027. The fund must be maintained as a separate line item and may not revert to the general fund or any other fund. The council changed the effective date to October 1, 2026, and approved the ordinance by voice/raised-hand vote.
• An additional new-business item, 7.3, was set aside after discussion with the town manager was needed.

Clerk-Treasurer Report on Local Income Tax Discussions

• Stonecypher reported on the morning's MUST committee meeting with Clark County Councilman Linford, school districts, and Mayor Trava Hodges.
• Discussion included a possible countywide 1.5 percent local income tax rate, described as making the town whole in essence but not fully given new homestead credits. Under one scenario, if the county adopted a 0.89 percent rate and municipalities set their own rates, the county would gain an additional $6 million to rebate.
• Stonecypher noted that, because of the 1 percent constitutional circuit-breaker tax cap, most homeowners would not pay more than 1 percent of assessed value in property taxes.
• The next meeting is set for Monday, September 28, 2026, most likely at 10 a.m.

Police Chief, Permits, and Council Comments

• The police chief thanked circuit court judges for visiting the station and recognized officers for a response on Sunday, including life-saving measures and follow-up search warrants.
• A council member asked about constituent permit concerns. Glenn responded that some permits had been cleaned up, but contracted support was not available that week because of other commitments.
• Council members discussed scheduling interviews for a permanent building commission and thanked developers, public safety personnel, and the Hanes family for the use of a facility.
• The council promoted an October 17 community event, asking residents to bring chairs and family.

Key Outcomes

• The FY 2027 budget public hearing was closed without public testimony; an objection petition may be filed with the Clerk-Treasurer by taxpayers within seven days after the hearing.
• Resolution 2026 R-15 expanding South Clarksville allocation area number one was approved.
• Ordinance 2026 G-17 establishing the non-reverting building and construction fund was approved, effective October 1, 2026.
• The council scheduled an executive session for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, on town management recruitment.
• The next MUST committee meeting is Monday, September 28, 2026, likely at 10 a.m.
• The transcript does not explicitly record the outcome of votes on the Maine and Clark bond ordinance or Ordinance 2026 G-16; no meeting minutes were provided to confirm those results.