FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carrie Cason
Email: ccason@westfield.in.gov
Phone: 317-804-3004
Cell: 317-664-1840
March 6, 2012

Westfield, IN – Mayor Andy Cook and the Westfield City Council announced that they have lowered the tax rate for 2012 despite approval from the Department of Local Government and Finance (DLGF) to significantly raise the tax rate.  

According to City Officials, the City’s assessed value (AV) dropped nearly $35 million from 2011 to 2012.  As a result, the DLGF approved the City to raise property taxes to compensate for the loss in AV. Instead of raising  the rate to the authorized amount it is our responsibility to be a fiscally responsible municipality, furthermore, instead of raising the tax rate, we’ve responded to the economic realities and we were able to slightly lower the rate,” says Mayor Andy Cook.  “We are constantly looking at developing ways to deliver services to our citizens in the most efficient ways possible.”  says Cook.   

The City of Westfield municipality receives approximately 25% of a typical household’s tax bill and the Westfield Washington Schools receives nearly 65% of the tax bill.  The other 10% is divided between the Westfield Library, Washington Township and Hamilton County.  “We hope that the other taxing entities will also strive to lower their rates so residents can begin to see decrease in overall tax bills,” says Westfield Mayor Andy Cook.  City Officials hope to continue this downward trend as it relates to the City tax rate and will continue to work with other government units to drop overall tax bills for residents and business.  

If additional information is needed, please contact me at the above listed number.