The Town of Griffith might have to do more with less, as its 2025 municipal budget estimate faces more than a $1 million shortfall based on the amount of property taxes it expects to receive.
The Griffith Town Council held a hearing on the budget at Tuesday’s meeting, advertised at $32,112,309, with no objections or questions from members of the public in attendance.
While the budget will likely be less than the advertised amount once it’s certified by state officials, town officials have identified an approximately $1.1 million funding gap, based on expected property tax collection.
Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, said the town hopes to close about half of that gap by applying for an excess tax levy of $505,000 from the state.
“The reason we’re taking that (excess levy) is because we had such incredible growth in assessed valuation the last several years, which allows a municipality to go for what’s called a growth appeal,” he said. “You have to meet certain parameters from the state, and one is having a higher-than-average assessed value growth (residential and commercial properties) over a three-year period.”
However, the state has yet to rule on the town’s excess appeal. As for the monetary impact of the excess levy on taxpayers, Ryfa said it would be “fairly minimal, nothing crazy,” but was unsure of the individual average increase of $505,000 spread out over the entire property tax base.
While town officials estimate that approximately $13 million will come from property taxes, the remainder will come via fees, such as those involving sanitary, storm and water utility services, according to Ryfa.
He noted that the budget includes certain wish list items, such as $600,000 for a new leaf vacuum truck. But without that extra $505,000, there could be some difficult budget cuts. The fate of the excess levy likely won’t be known until sometime in November, while the town council has slated budget adoption for Oct. 29.
Under Indiana Department of Local Finance guidelines, municipal budgets are required to be balanced.
Leaf pickup, hazardous materials drop off announced
Public Works Director Andy Raab announced that weekly leaf pickup will begin Oct. 21 and run through Dec. 10. He advised residents to check the town’s website to learn which day of the week their leaves will be collected.
Leaves can be placed on the parkway in front of the home or left out in recyclable paper collection bags, not in plastic bags or the blue trash receptables.
The town’s annual household hazardous waste collection will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Griffith Public Works Department, 630 S. Arbogast St. Public Works will also allow use of its shredder, with quantities limited to four boxes of paper per vehicle.
For more information, contact Public Works at (219) 924-3838.
In other announcements, Raab said that about 90% of water lines in town have been tested, and that Griffith’s report to state and federal environmental officials will show no indication of lead in the pipes.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.