Hancock County, IN - 8/20/2026 Special Meeting - MUST (Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce) Meeting

The Hancock County, Indiana Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce (MUS) held a special meeting on August 20, 2026, to discuss the transition from a levy-based to a rate-based Local Income Tax (LIT) system and its implications for various municipal units including cities, towns, townships, libraries, and fire districts. The meeting focused heavily on revenue replacement concerns, with participants expressing worries about potential losses in revenue, particularly related to fire territories and the impact of tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Discussions included the challenges of setting equitable tax rates, the need for updated population data beyond the 2020 census, and the importance of a forthcoming fire study to inform allocations. The group also addressed the opt-in/opt-out options for municipalities regarding the use of adjusted gross income (AGI) for tax rate calculations, with a consensus that opting in would require a commitment of at least three years. No formal votes were taken during this meeting; rather, it served as a forum to gather input and clarify issues ahead of future decisions. Action items include further data analysis, consideration of updated population metrics, and awaiting the fire study results to guide equitable tax rate setting and revenue distribution.