04202015 - News Article - Portage's Snyder, Clancy spar over property tax bills

Portage's Snyder, Clancy spar over property tax bills
NWI Times
Apr 20, 2015
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/portage-s-snyder-clancy-spar-over-property-taxbills/article_2dbcd3cd-c280-50fc-a7f8-834299795611.html
PORTAGE | Portage Mayor James Snyder and Portage Township Trustee Brendan Clancy got into a sparring match Monday over local property tax bills.

Snyder issued a press release Monday morning pointing the blame in increase in property tax bills on Clancy. Clancy called Snyder's allegations "smoke and mirrors."

It is possible Clancy, a Democrat, will face Snyder, a Republican, in November's mayoral race.

In his statement, Snyder said his office has received calls from residents after seeing a "noticeable tax increase."

"Upon review of several tax bills, what was found is that the Township Trustee's tax rate had soared 29 percent from 2014 to 2015, while the tax rates for the Civil City, School Corporation, County and Township libraries all declined by 7.5 percent, 1.75 percent, 1.75 percent and 14 percent respectively," Snyder wrote, pointing to a "nearly 400 percent increase" in the township's recreation budget since 2011.

"We have worked incredibly hard to move Portage forward without raising taxes and by making much needed improvements to the city that continue to raise the appraised value of Portage homes and businesses, which in turn reduces the property tax burden on our residents and homeowners," said Snyder.

"We were shocked to see the increase created by Trustee Clancy's office as we believed our residents were going to see relief this year," said Snyder.

"In regards to Mayor Snyder's allegation that the township park budget increased by 400 percent; those figures are entirely misleading," Clancy said in a written response to Snyder's allegations.

Clancy said while township revenue has decreased from $3 million in 2009 to $1.9 million in 2014, spending has increased on parks with the use of grants, grant programs and outside revenue.

"In order to increase the parks budget, other department budgets were reduced in addition to the implementation of many money saving programs. Any increase in the parks budget did not result in the tax payer paying any additional taxes," Clancy said.

Clancy said Portage township has a below average debt of approximately $16 per capita. He said the city's debt per capita last year was $294.

"While the city has had to borrow money to repair their infrastructure, the township improved our parks, cemeteries and the Bonner Senior Center from our general fund without having to borrow money from you, the taxpayer," said Clancy, adding the township's debt will be paid off in five years while the city, under Snyder, has issued more than $14 million in bonds and has a debt now exceeding $104 million, which won't be paid off for 20 years, leaving Portage with the fifth highest debt in the state.