Annexation vs. Incorporation

On one side, you have the Fishers Town Council, who after two years of waiting on other Indiana annexation verdicts, is now sprinting to annex Geist before they can form their own two towns: East and West Geist.

On the other side you have an inspired group of homeowners that has had two years to organize and raise funds.

On September 21^st, a group of Geist homeowners filed petitions with the Hamilton County Commissioners to form the Towns of East and West Geist. Fishers annexed the lakebed of Geist down to the Fall Creek Bridge last year which forced homeowners to create two towns due to contiguity issues. Both East and West Geist will operate under an inter-local agreement to reduce costs.

The Town of Fishers is claiming that they had a first reading on September 17^th of the annexation ordinances before the petitions were filed. Geist homeowners are claiming that the offer letter sent to them on September 11^th gave them until September 21^st to respond. Their response was to form the Towns of East and West Geist.

So now, Geist homeowners north of 96^th Street in the unincorporated areas have two paths: Fight the forced annexation by Fishers and pursuing the incorporation of East and West Geist.

Below are some of the most common questions and answers to help people understand the ins and outs of annexation and incorporation.

What is the tax impact of annexation vs. incorporation?
Property taxes are going up under both scenarios. Based on the tax rate submitted in the fiscal plans by the Towns of East and West Geist (.2616) and the current tax rate of Fishers (.3234), homeowners in the new Towns of Geist would save about 19% over annexation by Fishers.

Who has to approve the new Towns of East and West Geist?
The ultimate approval comes from the Hamilton County Commissioners. In order for them to approve the new towns, Geist petitioners must also gain the approvals of any city within four miles: City of Lawrence, City of Indianapolis, and the City of Noblesville. Fishers is a town so no permission is needed from their annexing foe.

Won’t the new towns be formed before Fishers can annex them?
Not necessarily. The Town of Fishers has bulked up their legal team substantially to try to put Geist’s incorporation bid on ice. Geist homeowners will still need to remonstrate and get 65% or more to sign a petition against the annexation.

Haven’t two subdivisions already signed on to join Fishers?
Forest Knoll and Country Lane Estates have been working on a sewer agreement for four years. Both subdivisions are off of 116^th Street and both have failing septics.

Why two towns?
Fishers annexed the lakebed a few years ago. According to state statute, a new town must be contiguous.

Will people living in Lawrence be in the new Towns of Geist?
No, the new Towns of East and West Geist are in Hamilton County only.

What are the important dates upcoming?

• November 7^th: The Geist United Opposition is hosting an incorporation meeting at HSE High School at 7:00 pm.
• December 4^th: Public hearing at Hamilton County Government Center on the formation of the Towns of East and West Geist, 6:00 pm.
• December 19^th: Public hearing at the Fishers Town Hall on the forced annexation of Geist, 4:00 pm.
• January 19^th, 2008: Probable passage date of the annexation ordinances by the Fishers Town Council. Geist homeowners would have 90 days to sign petitions against them.