Hancock County, IN - 10/7/2026 Special Meeting - MUST (Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce) Meeting

Hancock County’s October 7, 2026, special Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce (MUST) meeting focused on how proposed state tax changes, including Senate Bill 1, could affect local income-tax revenues and the distribution of rates among the county, municipalities, townships, and other taxing units. Participants reviewed estimated revenue losses, rate caps, population and income-data limitations, and concerns that 2020 Census figures may not reflect growth across the county. They discussed preserving current special-purpose LIT funding and seeking state flexibility in rate allocation, particularly for townships and fire/EMS services. A consultant also noted a fire territory’s need for another station but said it could not afford to staff it; no station project or related purchase was considered for approval.

No votes were taken and no contracts, vendor selections, or procurement actions were identified. The group agreed there was not enough information to endorse specific rates for 2029 and discussed preparing two versions of the written response, along with meeting-attendance records, for review. Staff will circulate drafts and availability for another in-person meeting, with the aim of including absent communities and completing the response by November 2.