When I arranged to record a podcast with Fishers Department of Public Works Director Eric Pethtel and Mayor Scott Fadness, the subject was celebrating the time capsule to be placed underneath Fishers new City Hall/Arts Center, and we did talk about that.

However, I had to ask the mayor about a news story that broke late last week, where a Marion County Judge ruled a state law provision unconstitutional, sending about $10 million a year of local income tax money from Carmel to Fishers as what the mayor described as a “temporary solution” to what the City of Fishers views as an unfair tax distribution system.

This situation also ties into Fishers’ history, since the Town of Fishers, going back to the days of Scott Faultless as Town Council President and Scott Faddness’ time as an intern with the Town staff, Fishers officials have been warning about an unfair tax distribution system established by the state.  Fadness describes last week’s court decision as “a dramatic turn of events…an unfortunate one.”

Mayor Fadness argues that if you combine the 2 major revenue streams for Fishers, property and income taxes, Carmel receives $60 million per year more than Fishers, even though the 2 cities are similar by most measures, including population.

As to what may come next, Mayor Fadness did not comment specifically, but added, “We are still evaluating everything.”

The $10 million in local income tax funds from Carmel to Fishers is described by Fadness as a temporary solution, making the situation “tolerable,  Doing away with that (temporary solution) makes the financial realities literally unsustainable under the current form.”

It should also be pointed out that Carmel sued the State of Indiana in this legal action.  Any decision on appealing this court ruling is up to state officials.

You can hear the mayor’s comments in full in the first part of the podcast linked below, but the remainder of the podcast is focused on the history of Fishers.  Also, below, see a couple of photos from old Fishers.