An Editorial by Carla Hacker
Good Morning Franklin County, Town of Brookville, Friends and Neighbors! This morning when FB asked what was on my mind, I had to pause – there’s a lot on my mind and most has to do with the spending that the BTC is doing – not just the annexation, but ALL of what is going on. What am I talking about? You know me – if you ask, I will tell you:
- I realized that there is a group of “investors”, “developers” and council members that really aren’t interested in what will make Brookville and it’s surrounding area grow and thrive. That “grow and thrive” phrase is for them personally and not for our area.
- Every time I think of those who might be priced out of their homes with these taxes, I remember HIM saying “There’s always those casualties. It happens every day”. And you know, after watching those live streams of the council meetings, you can surely believe he said that.
- Regarding the petition that we have 30 days to file if we want to object: We are checking on that and will report back. Did you see how the last petition was treated? It went to Gina who passed it onto the BTC, who had its president determine………. NOTHING. Of course they determined NOTHING because this council (and the one before it) listens to no one. HOWEVER, the petition we are talking about with this last meeting will go to the DLGF (the Department of Local Government Finance). I wonder how much power they have over these people? Again, we are checking on it. (If you would like to work on this project, please PM me – we would LOVE to have you help out!)
- Regarding the READI grant. Have you read between the lines on that thing? 4 mil to run sewer up the hill. Then I guess we hook on from the street? I still think the BTC and the developers should foot the bill for the sewer lines. Why? Let THEM have the cost of this if they can afford it. Don’t worry about our property taxes and what it will cost us – we will already be capped out just like the majority of Brookville is / will be. With all they are spending and even what hasn’t been added onto the taxes yet (pool, GC, Zimmer, walking path, ect), we will be capped out before the sewer ever gets going. Therefore, I say, NO READI GRANT! That money could be used for a complex for young people to enjoy here in our area! Let the council feel the pinch of their spending and if those three developers mentioned in the grant want to develop, they can do it on their own dime!
- If you don’t believe me about the grant vs our property taxes, PM me and we will figure yours together through the Gateway site for local government. Then you will quickly see what I’m talking about.
- And if you watched the live stream of the joke of a public hearing last Tuesday, you saw that those with homes over $126k in value are already pretty much capped out in taxes, so now they will go after those with homes under $126k and local businesses. The rest is on our backs. That’s why I say, let’s give them back what they are giving to us! And this is also why I am including the our Town of Brookville neighbors in these posts. If we band together to get the attorney, it will benefit us all. And I for one, NEVER expected them to foot the bill for an outside attorney with regards to the things they are doing to at every public hearing ect and beyond. The annexation attorney would be on US but the civil attorney will benefit us all!
- I truly believe we were treated unfairly the other night at the public hearing. I will show you why in a later post. Even under the watchful eyes of big dollar attorneys, we were treated unfairly! And when Bridget asked the question about the homes under $126k, did you see the gal from Baker Tilly look to Curtis before answering? She hedged the question anyway but how devious and underhanded! So when they are paid by the BTC, be careful about believing what you’re told. (That guy has got to GO!)
There is so much wrong here that we could go on for days! Please scroll down throughout the day for additions to the page. There should be 4 total. I want to add media to some of it so I think it would be better in separate posts.