From the desk of a concerned Southwest Clay resident:

Indiana Annexation Law is Un-American

Mayors of Indiana have the power to annex their neighbors and this process is totally in contrast to the basic principles upon which the United States was founded.

Based on this concern, The Indiana General Assembly directed the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to conduct a study of annexation.

The Described Annexation Debate

-         property owners and residents, resentful of actions by officials they did not elect, and opposed to increases in taxes, remonstrate, litigate, and organize politically to stop annexations or change annexation law.

-         County and township officials, concerned about loss of tax base and changes in rural ways of life, question the annexation law and cooperate with citizens, although they do not lead annexation battles.

-         Municipal officials, exercising the discretion vested in them by their electorate and the authority given them by the General Assembly, vote to annex territory in order to provide services, manage growth, and enhance the well being of the cities and towns they serve.

Municipal officials want to retain their authority to annex property---- Property owners want to change the annexation law to make annexation contingent upon the approval of the property owners to be annexed either through referendum or petition-----County and Township officials want to maintain rural character of their communities and support their residents.

The new Annexation Statutes passed by the General Assemble made Annexation slightly more difficult for Municipalities to annex property but stopped short of self determination.

The City of Carmel having lost their case in The Hamilton County Superior Court, have requested and been granted; the case to be transferred to the Indiana State Supreme Court.

It is imperative that we prevail, to preserve the property owners right to continue to seek modification of the Indiana Annexation Statutes.

Please support the Southwest Clay Community Association in its efforts!!