Fort Wayne City Council held a news conference April 28 to discuss a proposal to raise the local income tax rate to fund riverfront development and neighborhood sidewalks and alleys.
Councilman John Crawford, R-at-large, proposed a plan to invest $79 million into riverfront development and $40 million into neighborhood sidewalks and alleys.
Crawford was joined by fellow council members Tom Didier, R-3rd District, Tom Freistroffer, R-at-large, Glynn Hines, D-6th District, Mayor Tom Henry, members of the mayor’s administration and officials from Fort Wayne Community Schools at the news conference.
The proposal calls for $79 million dollars to be made in riverfront development including riverbank stabilization, the expansion of public amenities, increasing flood capacity of public space and creating private development sites near the river.
According to a press release from the council, the revenue would help advance phases two and three of riverfront development.
In addition, the proposal calls for $40 million over the next 10 to 15 years to build 40 miles of new sidewalks for connectivity from neighborhoods to schools, to repair existing sidewalks and to “invest in and increase life span of alleys.”
Some of the projects will address areas of Fort Wayne Community Schools and East Allen County Schools that lack sidewalks for children, Crawford said. The plan would also allow expansion of the maintenance program for existing sidewalks and repairs to alleys throughout the city, he said.
Allen County’s current income tax rate is 1.35 percent, lower than most surrounding counties and below the Indiana county average of 1.59 percent. The statutory cap is 3.75 percent.
An increase in the local income tax of 0.15 would generate $9.6 million per year for the projects, according to the press release.
The average household with an income of $49,000 would see an increase of $6 per month or $73 per year if the local income tax is adjusted by 0.15 percent. Individuals on fixed incomes would not have their Social Security income taxed under this proposal.
“Enthusiasm to proceed with the full scope of riverfront development is high among the great majority of citizens. Having a vibrant and thriving riverfront destination is will allow the city of Fort Wayne to attract and retain high-paying jobs and top talent which will ensure that our economy continues to grow far into the future,” Crawford said.
“Having a strong neighborhood core for citizens to reside is imperative to the health of Fort Wayne. Improving our infrastructure in making sure that there are sidewalks for every child to walk to school on and that our neighborhoods are connected is paramount to the overall health of the community. I am thankful for the strong leadership of these members of the Fort Wayne City Council who are standing with me today and Mayor Henry, who are all committed to moving our city forward.”
The proposal is scheduled to be introduced to City Council in June with a final vote anticipated in July. The process will include public hearings as part of City Council’s discussion to invest in the riverfront and neighborhood infrastructure. Public meetings will also be conducted to provide residents, neighborhoods and businesses an opportunity to learn more about the proposal. A complete schedule will be released in the coming weeks.