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Watchdog Lebanon provides information about the revenues, spending, and long-term debt assumption of the local and county governments in Boone County. An online community is established where Boone County Hoosiers work together to help control government growth. This volunteer effort is non-party, non-connected, and non-profit. 

Watchdog Lebanon is an advocate for good government that focuses on the local tax burden of Boone County working families.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, ... who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

Watchdog Lebanon was founded by Aaron Smith on November 14, 2001. Aaron's resides in Lebanon Indiana, and his biographical information can be found online at http://www.finplaneducation.net/aaron.htm. 

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Bait & Switch
Our well-intentioned but over-zealous Sheriff proclaims that he needs a permanent 50% increase in the county-wide Local Income Tax (LIT) to pay for his Business Plan. However, much of the LIT increase would NOT be used to pay for new spending on the Sheriff's Business Plan or other county public safety needs. Much of the LIT increase would be available for non-public safety spending on who knows what!

Boone County Sheriff 2016 Business Plan

The components of the Boone County Sheriff 2016 Business Plan have been evaluated from a Taxpayer Friendly standpoint, and the evaluation results are summarized online at http://www.finplaneducation.net/sheriff_business_plan.htm. A Taxpayer Friendly Funding Option is presented where the most important Business Plan components are phased in WITHOUT a Local Income Tax rate increase by making prudent use of (1) some of the annual revenue increases from the existing 1.0% Local Income Tax rate and (2) the ample cash reserves in the County Rainy Day Fund.

Immediate action needed!
10/02/2016: Everyone is urged to contact the Zionsville Town Council and Lebanon City Council members and insist they vote against the excessive county-wide 50% Local Income Tax increase on October 11.

The phone number to reach all the Zionsville Town Council members is 317-873-5130 and the E-mail addresses for Josh Garrett, Elizabeth Hopper, Jeff Papa, Tom Schuler, Kevin Spees, Susana Suarez, and Bryan Traylor are: jgarrett@zionsville-in.gov; ehopper@zionsville-in.gov; jpapa@zionsville-in.gov; tschuler@zionsville-in.gov; kspees@zionsville-in.gov; ssuarez@zionsville-in.gov; btraylor@zionsville-in.gov;

The Lebanon City Council Members are are Keith Campbell (765-482-6082), John Copeland (765-482-5817), Dan Fleming (765-335-2170), Mike Kincaid (317-341-5934), Corey Kutz (765-414-0704), Jeremy Lamar (765-482-4662), and Dick Robertson (765-891-2604) and their E-mail addresses are: kecampbell@cityoflebanon.org; john.dcopeland5@gmail.com; daniel.fleming88@gmail.com; mikekincaid22@gmail.com; corey.kutz@gmail.com; jlamar@lamar-lamar.com; dick.robertson67@yahoo.com;

Everyone is also urged to contact Zionsville Mayor Tim Haak (317-873-5410, thaak@zionsville-in.gov) and Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry (765-482-1201, MayorGentry@CityOfLebanon.org) and insist they veto the excessive 50% Local Income Tax increase.

In addition, concerned citizens also need to attend the Lebanon High School joint meeting on October 11 at 7:00 PM and testify against the Local Income Tax increase.

Did You Know?
10/02/2016: There has been an “interesting” development. A 25% increase in the Local Income Tax rate would give the Boone County government $2,274,316 in additional revenue – enough to fund the entire Boone County Sheriff 2016 Business Plan cost. HOWEVER, Sheriff Mike Nielsen is trying to sell a 50% Local Income Tax rate increase where a family with a $60,000 income would pay $300 more annual tax, instead of $150 more tax with a 25% increase. Why is Sheriff Nielsen selling a Local Income Tax rate increase that would generate twice as much revenue as he needs for his entire Business Plan?

Lebanon Sanitary Sewer Backup Prevention

Raw sewage backups in Lebanon homes present serious health hazards from exposure to the pathogens and allergens that fester in sewage waste. The Indiana State Department of Health has identified the following diseases caused by raw sewage and sewage contaminated water: Campylobacteriosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Escherichia coli Diarrhea, Encephalitis, Gastroenteritis, Giardiasis, Hepatitis A, Leptospirosis, Methaemoglobinaemia, Poliomyelitis, Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Paratyphoid Fever, Typhoid Fever, and Yersiniosis. Details regarding these dangerous diseases can be found online at http://www.in.gov/isdh/22963.htm.

The elimination of improper sump pump and other connections to the sanitary sewer system is an important first step in preventing Lebanon’s sanitary sewer backups. A crucial initiative pertaining to the elimination of improper sanitary sewer system connections is the Lebanon Utilities Sanitary Sewer Study in the Morningside and Edgewood neighborhoods.

Lebanon Utilities and Wessler Engineering are conducting a Sanitary Sewer Study in the Morningside and Edgewood neighborhoods. This Study includes the inspection of resident sump pumps and the inspection of sanitary lateral pipes that connect homes to the city’s sanitary sewer pipes. Homeowners are responsible for the proper operation of both the resident sump pumps and the sanitary lateral pipes. Detailed information about the Study can be found on the Lebanon Utilities web page at http://www.lebanon-utilities.com/ww_projects.html.

There are a total of 244 homes in the Study area. The Morningside neighborhood includes Morningside Drive, Sunnyside Lane, Brookside Drive, and the adjoining sections of Fordice Road and John Bart Road. The Edgewood Neighborhood includes Edgewood Drive, Amber Lane, Evergreen Road, Glendale Drive, and the adjoining sections of Fordice Street, Grant Street, and Washington Street (and the homes on Main Street between Prairie Creek and Oak Hill Cemetery). As of September 17, 21 of the 244 homes had been inspected – two of the inspected homes had improper sump pump connections to the Lebanon sanitary sewer system.

Morningside and Edgewood neighborhood residents have been asked to please schedule their home inspection by E-mailing Nancy Hanley at NancyH@wesslerengineering.com or calling 317-788-4551 (ask for Nancy). The inspections began on September 2, 2014, and will end on October 30, 2014. Inspections will be scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. It is imperative that all Lebanon citizens urge the 244 Morningside and Edgewood homeowners to participate in the Sanitary Sewer Study.

A Special Report has been prepared by Watchdog Lebanon regarding the prevention of sanitary sewer backups in Lebanon homes. The Special Report sections include (1) Introduction, (2) Lebanon Sanitary System Overview, (3) Lebanon Sanitary Sewer Backup Sources, (4) Lebanon Sanitary Sewer Backup Solutions, (5) Proper Storm Water Management For Morningside & Edgewood Homeowners, (6) Voluntary Compliance Is Important, (7) Home Sump Pumps A Likely Problem, (8) Disconnecting Home Sump Pumps Will Prevent Most Sanitary Sewer Backups, (9) Payment Options To Correct Improper Sanitary Sewer Connections. The Special Report can be found online at http://www.finplaneducation.net/sewer_backup_prevention.htm.

  City of Lebanon Interchange Land Use Plan
Detailed information about the Interchange Plan can be found online at http://www.finplaneducation.net/lebanon_interchange_plan.htm. 

All Lebanon and Boone County residents concerned about Lebanon's I-65 and State Road 39 Interchange Land Use Plan are encouraged to sign the "PETITION REQUEST TO LEBANON MAYOR HUCK LEWIS." Please send an E-mail to taxless3@comcast.net to obtain a copy of the Petition.

The Petition reads as follows: "The signature(s) of the concerned citizen(s) on this petition verify a request to have the 1,000 Acres of unincorporated Center Township farmland removed from the proposed City of Lebanon I-65 and State Road 39 Interchange Land Use Plan. Some of the reasons for this request include the following: (1) the industrial and single family residential land uses included in the Interchange Plan for the 1,000 Acres conflict with the Boone County Area Comprehensive Plan that preserves agricultural uses until the year 2030, (2) the Boone County Zoning Ordinance as administered by the Area Plan Commission satisfactorily protects the 1,000 Acres from "spot zoning" changes without the Interchange Plan, (3) the 1,500 acres in the Interchange Plan study area that are already within the Lebanon city limits are sufficient for Lebanon’s commercial and industrial development the next twenty years without the 1,000 Acres in unincorporated Center Township, (4) Lebanon has plenty of empty buildings and space in the Lebanon Business Park for business development without the 1,000 Acres, (5) inclusion of the 1,000 Acres in the Interchange Plan might defeat in court a land owners remonstrance against a future involuntary Lebanon annexation, (6) it would be more likely for eminent domain to be imposed to forcibly obtain the rights-of-way needed for the proposed Interchange Plan infrastructure, (7) the rural quality of life that so many Boone County residents enjoy and cherish would be maintained."

The City of Lebanon Interchange Land Use Plan “outlines the City’s short- to long-term plan for improvement, development, and growth” for a study area whose northeast boundary is I-65, west boundary is SR 39, and south boundary is County Road 250 South.” The Interchange Plan is presented as a “foundation for future decision-making regarding land use and infrastructure development and transportation circulation.” The Interchange Plan study area is about 2,500 acres, with 1,500 acres within the City limits and 1,000 acres outside the City within unincorporated Center Township. Agricultural land in the Interchange Plan study area today totals 2,190 acres and is “actively used by a select number of owners that have held the properties for several generations.” None of this farm land is preserved because the Interchange Plan provides, “Growth within the study area is desired to be in the form of mid- to high-end residential, business, office, retail, technology, research, light industry, or a combination of these forms.” 

The proposed Interchange Plan also stipulates: (a) “The cost of the recommended infrastructure is intended to be shared by Lebanon as well as the developer” and (b) “All infrastructure developments will defray development costs associated with private developments and make the study area more attractive for private investment, as well as reduce the risk and time for development.” The cost estimates for the nine categories of Interchange Plan infrastructure subject to taxpayer and utility ratepayer subsidies are summarized as follows:
$ 26.614 million for 3.9 miles of 4- lane Arterial Roads
$   8.019 million for 2.5 miles of 2-lane Collector Roads
$ 26.584 million for 5.3 miles of 3-lane Roads
$   8.743 million for 6.1 miles of Water Main Lines
$   1.767 million for 5.8 miles of Sanitary Sewer Trunk Lines
$   2.486 million for 2 Sanitary Lift Stations
$   4.200 million for an Electric Transmission Line
$   1.910 million for an Electric Substation
$ 28.802 million for the Lebanon I-65 Corridor Master Drainage Plan
$109.125 million TOTAL Subject to Taxpayer and Utility Ratepayer Subsidies

To put the $109,125,000 total Interchange Plan infrastructure subject to taxpayer and utility ratepayer subsidies in perspective, the total 2014 City of Lebanon budget certified by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance is $12,762,558. Mayor Lewis expresses his municipal growth philosophy in the City of Lebanon April 2014 Newsletter when he states, “Many entities are reluctant to locate in Lebanon without being ‘offered’ something.” Lebanon and Boone County working families cannot afford the mayor’s desired quid pro quo for the Interchange Plan infrastructure.

Some aspects of the Interchange Plan might be a reasonable road map for orderly development the next few decades. However, the Interchange Plan provisions that call for the $109.125 million estimated cost of the recommended infrastructure to be shared by Lebanon taxpayers and utility ratepayers are Taxpayer UNfriendly and would rapidly erode our rural quality of life while creating the potential for eminent domain abuses. Also, the Interchange Plan does not preserve Center Township farmland as provided for in the Boone County Area Comprehensive Plan. The Interchange Plan should be tabled by the Lebanon Plan Commission unless and until (1) all Interchange Plan references are removed that relate to infrastructure cost sharing by taxpayers and utility ratepayers and (2) the 1,000 Acres of Center Township farmland are removed from the Interchange Plan's study area.

  The Lebanon Watch
"The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry." William F. Buckley, Jr.

It is time for everyday Lebanon residents to assert that our elected and appointed local government officials must stop increasing taxes and utility rates on existing residents to subsidize speculative development that does not pay for itself. One way to accomplish this goal is for concerned Lebanon residents to “watch” our thirty-five Lebanon and Boone County government bodies that are responsible for the oversight of our tax dollars and utility rates. 

If you attend a local government meeting (or watch it on TV) and discover something that is noteworthy, please send a report of the meeting to Watchdog Indiana at taxless3@comcast.net. The Lebanon Watch Report web pages for our various government bodies and their public policy decisions can be accessed through the Watchdog Lebanon Topics Index below.  

The meetings scheduled by our local government bodies between now and December 1, 2016 (together with detailed information about meeting locations, contacts, and websites) can be found online at http://www.finplaneducation.net/lebanon_watch_meetings.htm. (Note: Some recorded City of Lebanon meetings are posted on a YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/LebanonIndiana-TheFriendlyCity.) 

You Can Help.
Listed below are several ways you can help control taxes and spending in Boone County.

Bookmark this website so you can easily visit Watchdog Lebanon often to help learn about cash revenues, cash spending, and long-term debt assumption in the various Boone County governmental units.

Suggest projects for Watchdog Lebanon to adopt. Please send an E-mail if you know of something that needs the attention of Watchdog Lebanon.

Register to vote. Send an E-mail to the Boone County Clerk to request information on how and where to register to vote.

Review the Watchdog Lebanon  "Boone County Candidate Information" and "Lebanon Candidate Information" (see the above Boone County Topics Index and Lebanon Topics Index) when deciding how to vote in a local Boone County election.

E-mail to the Editor of your local newspaper a letter or opinion article about local cash revenues, cash spending, and long-term debt assumption. Use Letters To The Editor Via E-mail to find the E-mail address of the Editor of your local newspaper.

Use the Local Government Factfinding List to understand and influence the revenues, spending, and long-term debt assumption decisions of your local government.

Watchdog Lebanon summarizes my use of Boone County, Indiana, as a case study to demonstrate how you can work to help control the revenue and spending growth of your local government. Understanding the Fundamental Watchdog Beliefs will help you understand the approach taken in this website. Please send an E-mail telling what you think about Watchdog Lebanon or anything else that comes to mind. Your comments, suggestions, problems, complaints, praise, and opinions are welcome.

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This page was last updated on 03/28/17.