July 21, 2008 11:53 pm
—
For city, annexation could be lose/lose
It appears the annexation train is losing steam. First, anti-annexation signs were stolen and dumped on the courthouse lawn in the middle of the night, surely a sign of desperation from the groups that see what will happen to them if the city has to make some tough budget and personnel choices. Next, a large area was trimmed from the edge of the West Side Ordinance after complaints from Harrison taxpayers, including more than 150 letters to city councilmen.
Though the pro-annexation position is that it will benefit residents in and out of the city, it is obvious that main motive is to protect the city’s status quo in terms of budget, salaries, perks and jobs. In the real world, when income declines, families, corporations and government agencies cut back expenses to match income. In this situation, the city is attempting to not only continue its “lifestyle,” but to expand it with more employees, fire stations, vehicles, etc. This option is not available to businesses, like Delphi, or individual families faced with foreclosure and bankruptcy.
Clear proof of the city’s real priorities can be seen in the decision to not annex Darrough Chapel until it has its own sewer system. Of every neighborhood, addition and apartment complex in the two ordinances, Darrough Chapel is in most need of city services. City spokesmen say they will wait to annex that area until after federal grants pay the huge bills for the needed sewers. If these grants are readily available, why haven’t they been utilized? The local press has reported this addition’s problems for over 15 years. It appears the city is more interested in the income it can generate than the expenses that go with it.
It will be interesting to see what the Indianapolis accounting firm estimates it will cost not only annexed taxpayers but also current Kokomo City taxpayers to provide the infrastructure needed to bring services up to city standards. Most of the Terrace Gardens neighborhood, built in the 1950s, lacks sewers, water lines and street lights. It will take years of taxes to pay for these improvements – taxes that will be levied not only against the neighborhood’s residents but also against homeowners and businesses in the city.
Only time will tell how this plays out. In the words of an acquaintance, some things that governments do are a win/win for everyone; some things are a win/lose. Annexation could very possibly be a lose/lose for everyone!
Charles Short, Kokomo
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.