Mayor Mike Moore announced immediate cost-cutting measures in response to financial strain, citing the passage of state legislation that will likely reduce the city’s property tax revenue.
The City of Jeffersonville derives most of its funding from property tax revenue. The Indiana General Assembly recently passed Senate Bill 1 and signed by the Governor that, whereby other things, significantly reduces the amount of property tax revenue the City receives.
Moore said that the City of Jeffersonville is expected to lose approximately $5,716,860.00 in property tax revenue over the next three years as a result of Senate Bill 1. In response to the lost revenue, Moore announced seven measures to “limit and reduce expenditures.”
- All hiring for new and/or vacant positions in city departments and offices shall be suspended unless the Board of Public Works and Safety deems the position essential and critical to the city’s operations.
- All capital expenditures in excess of $5,000.00 shall have prior approval by the Board of Public Works and Safety.
- All work-related travel expenditures shall have prior approval by the Board of Public Works and Safety.
- All overtime for civilian employees shall have prior approval by the Mayor and the Controller.
- All buyouts of vacation and/or PTO shall be suspended.
- The Legal Department shall review longtime contracts to determine whether any are eligible for early termination.
- The Finance Department shall review municipal finances and provide recommendations for long term financial planning.
“It is necessary to implement pro-active cost-cutting measures in response to the expected reduction in property tax revenue caused by Senate Bill 1,” said Moore. “These measures are intended to limit and reduce expenditures to protect the City’s financial sustainability.”
Moore, a former small business owner, said he’s learned that in lean times you have to find ways to save money.
“My administration remains committed to fiscal responsible management while ensuring the efficient allocation of City resources,” said Moore. “I’m optimistic that these measures will not only allow us to weather the current storm but also place the City on a stronger financial footing going forward.”
What is the state doing with the funds that are no longer going to the community in which we live in?
The state is not getting the “additional funds” to which you referred. The ptoperty tax rate was cut do the funds will remain with individual taxpayers.
They grated my street for paving, just curious what the Criteria is for picking and choosing what streets get updated, my street was perfectly fine
They didn’t lower that much. With all the new developments in Jeffersonville there shouldn’t be that significant of an impact. Who foots the bill for River Stage? Giving citizens a little break should not impact services. I am sure there’s other things that can be done to make up for it.
Our property taxes have already doubled in last 2 years. With all the new housing, taxes should have already been lowered.
But more housing just creates more need from city services such as garbage, police, road maintenance, etc.
I agree, my property tax went up 58% from last year. My house is 99 years old and I purchased it for $25,000 when I was 20 now they did comps to one of the new homes built a few blocks away. I sit between several rental properties and some that are in dire need of repairs in Downtown Jeffersonville. I appealed my increase last year and was “approved “ but needed to set up a date according to a letter I received dated Dec 31 2024, I received the letter January 6 2025 informing me to call 812-285-6225 Stacy Fetz by January 15 2025 for my appeal to be forwarded to the property tax assessment board of appeals. I left a message on a voicemail at 2 PM on 7 January I believe and never heard anything back by phone or by mail. Now my taxes have gone up with no opportunity to continue the appeal that I sent in last year. I left a message on Stacy Fetz voicemail April 18 and I still have not received a call back regarding this.
Property taxes are ridiculous in Jeffersonville , I realize I can’t claim homestead but I am there about 4 months out of the year, mine has done nothing but raise , I’m now paying almost 5,000 a year on an old home that they accessed at 236,000 that’s ridiculous
I couldn’t agree more. I bought my home for $25,000 when I was 20 years old now they have assessed for well over $250,000. The house is the same. I still sit between quite a few rental properties and an Airbnb, which are not well-maintained. I don’t know how 100-year-old home Could increase in value that much in the neighborhood where there’s low income housing in downtown Jeffersonville.
With the exception of the first item on the list, all the rest sound like they should be in place permanently.
How much taxes have been collected from all businesses in River Ridge? How many were given tax breaks or credits to move their businesses to River Ridge. With all the multimillion dollar businesses going in why are residents property taxes going up each year? What are you doing with the increased taxes? If my taxes go up much more I won’t be able to afford my house, then what?
I worked my entire life here in downtown Jeffersonville. I paid cash for my house when I was 20 and now I’m disabled because of cancer and my taxes have gone up 58% each year which is totally ridiculous. The streets are not paved around my home the alley has potholes 6 to 8 inches deep. I can’t get to my parking behind my home because of that the sidewalks in the neighborhood are still pretty cracked. All businesses in downtown have been moved up east we have one small grocery store downtown and most of the banks have left downtown and moved up to the east end of Jeff. I rarely see a police officer drive down my street unless someone calls for one it seems like since River Ridge has been developed. They said to screw downtown they move the police out of downtown. All we have left is the jail which is 50 feet from the downtown grade school
I am in the same boat. If my taxes go up much more, I won’t be able to afford to live here. My neighbor is in her late 70’s and had to return to work from retirement because the property taxes keep going up. This is just not right! I’ve worked all my life to pay for my home and now it feels like I am still paying for it. I own my home…but do I? It never ends.
“Deems essential and critical to the city’s operation”
It should have always been this way. Why would the city hire people they didn’t need to hire? Have the citizens been pay for positions that were not needed? Maybe we need Elon Musk to spend a couple days going over the city’s books to find out where tax dollars have been spent, and why they were spent. I bet Jamey could get a new cellmate.
I thought the exact same thing!
Amen 🙏🏼 I am not a F Elon Musk fan but we do need to have an audit on spending. Jamey is a perfect example of why we need this audit, not mass layoffs just the information as to where the money is going. Transparency is key