8/26/26 - MUST Meeting

The Hendricks County Government held a Municipal Unit Strategic Task Force (MUST) meeting on August 26, 2026, focused primarily on the complexities of local income tax (LIT) distribution and rate setting for 2029. The task force, including fiscal officers and municipal representatives, discussed challenges related to population data accuracy from the 2020 census and the constraints imposed by the current statutory rate caps, particularly the 0.05% group rate cap. Financial consultant Greg Garitas presented detailed analyses of current and projected LIT allocations, highlighting disparities among townships, libraries, and fire/EMS services, and emphasizing the need for legislative flexibility to better distribute funds equitably. The group considered options such as increasing rate caps, adjusting multipliers for population weighting, and postponing final decisions until after state legislative changes. No binding votes on rates were taken, but the committee agreed to continue discussions and provide a nonbinding report to the state by November 2, 2026. The meeting also included a brief approval of previous meeting minutes.