DLGF Commissioner on changes in Budget

The Indiana General Assembly did pass a two year budget late last nite, and it was signed by Governor Daniels. This letter was sent this morning by Timothy Rushenberg, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Government Finance. Please call us today for assistance in planning your municipal budgets this year: 219-736-1800

All,

The State’s budget bill has passed both the House and the Senate and is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signing. Effective July 1, 2009, HB 1001(ss) includes the provision to move the unit budget adoption deadline from September 30 to November 1. Also, the bill moves the proposed budget advertisement (Budget Form 3) deadline to September 2 and September 9 rather than August 2 and August 9. A flow chart outlining the budget adoption process and deadlines for cities, towns and townships has been attached.

Other changes effective July 1, 2009 include:

The move to fiscal schools has been delayed until 2011. This means that beginning in 2011, each school corporation shall adopt a budget that applies from July 1 of the year through June 30 of the following year.

The “1782 Notice” period has been changed from 14 calendar days to 10 calendar days.

The Local Government Property Tax Control Board and School Property Tax Control Board have been repealed. All issues previously reviewed by the Control Boards will come directly to the Commissioner of the Department of Local Government Finance.

Political subdivisions with controlled projects subject to a referendum vote will need to provide project information to the DLGF for posting to the DLGF Web site.

We will soon be issuing more thorough guidance, but felt it important to provide notification of these important issues now. If you have specific questions you would like addressed, please send them to me and we will ensure they are answered in the guidance.

Very Respectfully,

Timothy J. Rushenberg

Commissioner

Indiana Department of Local Government Finance