Questions
  1. What is the timeline for the annexation process?
  2. What are the laws for annexation?
  3. How can I help?
  4. How can I contact members of the Muncie City Council?
  5. Which Muncie City Council members voted for the annexation?
  6. How can I get my questions answered?
  7. I did not receive a notice via certified mail and I am a homeowner in the annexation area. What should I do?
  8. If I am annexed, will my children be required to go to a different school?
  9. Will my address change if I am annexed?
  10. Will my taxes go up if I am annexed into the City of Muncie?
  11. What addition services will available if annexed by Muncie?
  12. Why is Muncie engaging in the annexations?
Answers
  1. What is the timeline for the annexation process?
    • Municipality shall develop and adopt a written fiscal plan and establish a definate policy by resolution of the legislative body. Done.
    • The municipality shall establish and adopt the fiscal plan before mailing public hearing notification to landowners in the territory proposed to be annexed. Done.
    • Notice of public hearing must be sent by certified mail at least 60 days before the date of the hearing to each owner of real estate, as shown on the county auditor's current tax list, whose real property is located within the territory proposed to be annexed. Done. If you did not receive a notice by certified mail and you are a landowner in the area of annexation, please let us know - click here.
    • Public hearing held on annexation. Done.
    • Municipality may adopt an ordinance not earlier than 30 days or not later than 60 days after public hearing. Done (Vote Roll Call)
    • After an ordinance is adopted, it must be published. The ordinance takes effect at least 90 days after its publication of the annexation ordinance and upon filing in the absence of remonstrance and appeal. Done
    • Remonstrance must be files within 90 days after the publication of the annexation ordinance, must be accompanied by a copy of that ordinance and must state why the annexation should not take place. Done
    • If the Court determines that the remonstrance is sufficient, it shall fix a time, within 60 days of its determination, for a hearing on the remonstrance. Notice of the proceedings shall be served on the annexing municipality. The municipality shall appear and answer. In Progress
    • The court shall:
      1. Hear and determine the remonstrance without a jury; and,
      2. Without delay, enter judgement on the question of the annexation according to the evidence that either party may introduce.
    • If judgement is adverse to annexation, the municipality may not make further attempts to annex the territory or any part of the territory during the four(4) years after the later of:
      1. The judgement of the circuit or superior court; or
      2. The date of the final disposition of all appeals to a higher court.
    Top
  2. What are the laws for annexation?
    To view the Indiana annexation statues, click here.
  3. How can I help?
    • Donate: Anyone, even those who are not homeowners, can help by donating money to our legal fund. Send checks, made out to "RNO Remonstrance Fund," to Jim Lowe, 2501 N. Kensington Way, Muncie, IN 47304.
    • Attend: Particate in public meetings like those before the Muncie City Council. Arriving in numbers demonstrates our resolve to not being annexed.
    • Volunteer: Help with passing out leaflets or gathering information. Click here to sign up to help.
    • See more: Click here to visit our How to Help page.
  4. How can I contact members of the Muncie City Council?
    The contact information for the Muncie City Council Members can be found here.
  5. Which Muncie City Council members voted for the annexation?
    Click here to see the roll call for the vote.
  6. How can I get my questions answered?
    Send us your questions and we will try to answer them (email: faqs@saynotomuncie.com). Some of the questions you send will be added to this area. Top
  7. I did not receive a notice via certified mail and I am a homeowner in the annexation area. What should I do?
    Please let us no by sending us an email with your name and address to jim@saynotomuncie.com
  8. If I am annexed, will my children be required to go to a different school?
    No. The school districts are not dependant upon manicipality limits.
  9. Will my address change if I am annexed?
    No.
  10. Will my taxes go up if I am annexed into the City of Muncie?
    Yes. The increase in property taxes will be from 36 to 50 percent.
  11. What addition services will available if annexed by Muncie?
    For the residents in the annexation region this increase in taxes will not equate into addition services. Currently the area has police and fire coverage. The only advantage to being annexed into the City of Muncie, for some, is public library access. For people in the "Western Annexation," those in Center Township already have resident access to the libraries and will not gain from the annexation (card policy). However, for those in Mt. Pleasant Township who do not have resident access, it would be far cheaper to purchase a non-resident library card than pay the higher property taxes. Top
  12. Why is Muncie engaging in the annexations?
    Annexation appears to be Muncie’s answer to arriving at a balanced budget. Since the city seems insouciant about spending within their current budget, they have decided to launch a number of annexation attempts to increase revenue (see article). For homeowners in the "Western Annex," this will amount to an increase of 36 to 50 percent in their property taxes. This increase will be especially difficult to those on fixed incomes and living paycheck to paycheck (e.g. most of us). According to the fiscal plan summary for the annexation, distributed a public notice to most residents in the area, the city will gain revenue of $18,295,424 through 2015. Since the city will not increase the staff of the police or fire departments, the non-capital cost will be limited to $97,936 for the same time period. That means the city will net $18,197,488 in additional revenue to their current taxation base.