Linda Gibson
City Council District 1
We should place more emphasis on publicizing our great tax rate plus the great companies residing in our city! We’re fortunate to have expanded our quality of life in many areas, as well as enjoying the expansion of existing businesses such as Endress+Hauser, Poynter Sheet Metal, California Fruits etc.
Many cities envy us as, we have attractive and low tax rates resulting in companies inquiring about our city each week! These inquiries offer us wonderful opportunities to expand the variety of business growth in Greenwood. We are in a situation at this time that, we can pursue and learn more about these potential new business opportunities or easily discourage those that don’t seem to be the right fit for our community. We are in a position that allows us more flexibility to pick and choose the companies we want to join our Greenwood network.
I was first appointed to the Council in November of 2009. I have compiled information on Greenwood’s annual tax rates since 2011. Below are annual rates you can examine and compare for yourself. You will see our annual tax rate has decreased from $0.7122 in 2011 to $0.6533 in 2022 and expected to hold steady at that same amount in 2023.
There are individuals wanting you to believe we are overspending. Some are unhappy with the commercial growth, such as in our downtown area, with the addition of the housing and retail space at The Madison (former middle school property).
REALITY IS….increasing our certified net ASSESSED VALUE OF $2,064,309,610 IN 2012 TO $3,757,898,587 at the end of 2022, we have BROADED OUR TAX BASE which in turn KEEPS YOUR CITY TAX RATE LOWER!
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| $.7122 | $.6962 | $.6885 | $.6902 | $.6557 | $.6438 | $.6533 | $.6533 |
| Actual | Actual | Actual | Actual | Actual | Actual | Actual | Projected |
In 2014, a conservative forecast estimated the new City Center would save our city $120,000 per year as a result of relocating the majority of our city employees under one roof. Actual savings in 2018 was $83,887. The rent collected (including the Common Area Maintenance charges) amounts to $186,488. The total benefit to taxpayers would be the sum of these two: $270,375.
According to our city controller and based on current rates for renting commercial space, we are likely ahead of the $120,000 per year projections. Several of our departments have experienced growth since moving into City Center. If the rental space didn’t have capacity, then we would have needed to rent even more space. The City Center purchase was a very well thought out investment!
City forecast: Smooth Sailing
Exciting time in Greenwood not stagnant but Vibrant & Growing!
Assessed Valuation (AV) increased from $2,129,424,140. December 31, 2014 to $2,493,703,197 and was certified for 2019. The AV for December 31, 2022 was 3,757,898,587.
Tax rate reduced from $0.6609 in 2014 to $0.059 in 2019. Our 2022 rate went to $0.6533 and the rate for 2023 held steady at $0.6533.
March 2019 and again in 2023, MIBOR Realtors announced their endorsement of my candidacy for Greenwood Common Council – District 1. Their endorsement demonstrates their confidence in my commitment to both my community and the responsibility of my Council Office.
According to Stats of America, Greenwood’s unemployment rate as of December 2022 was 2.4%. The January 2023 national rate according to Bureau of Labor Statistics was 3.4%.
OLD CITY PARK & SHELTER REHAB
The Old City Park shelter across from Mrs. Curl’s was rehabbed and expanded to include restroom facilities since the former “parks maintenance” building along Machledt Drive had been demolished to make way for the a totally reimagined park with a 20 foot cube tower focal point. The play tower is one of three in the country. Other new features include a custom climbing wall, great porch type swings that grandparents can enjoy while the children enjoy the park features. A bocce court is situated near the library where it’s not unusual to see team matches going on with a nice gathering of cheering fans nearby.
THE MADISON
Late in 2021, groundbreaking took place at the former middle school property for a new public/private partnership. The Madison is an $83,000,000 project consisting of condos, townhome and commercial space. The commercial space will be available on the lower level of the buildings along Madison Avenue. The City has built a parking garage to assist with the new gravitation to the downtown area.
FIELDHOUSE
The girl’s gym at the north end of the middle school building was preserved, repurposed and expanded by the Parks now proudly sits along Surina Way. Much of the exterior of the girl’s gym along with a section of the basketball court from the boy’s gym still exists. Many locals were thrilled to see historical thinking had gone into the design. The new facility opened in May of 2022 and presents a whole new generation of Parks facilities. An elevated indoor running and walking track on the upper level circles the interior of the building, pickle ball courts and an excellent golf simulator offers many opportunities for friends to challenge each other. Two multi-purpose turf fields on the main level can be used for multiple sports or covered by special flooring for special events.
BEST PLACES TO LIVE
In 2014, Johnson County was reported by CNN Money to be in the top 10 Suburbs to live – Median household income $60,835 (national average $48,958)
Unemployment rate 5.3 (national rate: 6.7%)
In 2017, MONEY magazine cited Greenwood’s family friendly atmosphere, low housing and excellent park system named Greenwood as of one of “THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN AMERICA’ FOR 2017”
The mayor reminds us of the importance of persistence. Such as Freedom Springs or Old Town Greenwood. Rumors floated that we would lose a minimum of $20,000 per year if we built what people were calling an “oversize” water park. In 2018, Freedom Springs welcomed over 108,000 visitors and exceeded $1 million in annual revenue. The Old Town Facade project lead the way of doing something rather than just talking about it over and over. The Madison and Old City Park projects have created even more focus and activity in our downtown area. NOW THAT’S PERSISTENCE AND DETERMINATION!!!
FLAGS FOR GREENWOOD
My father served in World War II. I appreciate our military and am very patriotic. That’s one of the reasons John and I started the Flags for Greenwood program in 1996.
One of my most cherished moments was standing along Madison Avenue looking at the recently installed patriotic American flags just hung by Barry Inabnitt and his team. The flags were gently blowing in the breeze. Without a team of citizens volunteering both their time and donations, the “Avenue of Flags” would never have been possible. (No city funds have been used in the purchase of the American flags). The “Avenue of Flags” proudly fly along nearly 24 miles of our city streets.
Very soon…..we will have another patriotic moment. There’s a group of citizens within our community working to raise funds to build a special memorial. The memorial is planned at the corner of Meridian Street and Surina Way. The memorial will honor military, police, firefighters, and EMTs. Our fundraising efforts are going well. We are anxiously awaiting the final design drawings to wrap up our fundraising efforts. Within a few months we should be able to finalize the individual sponsorships and order the stonework. We still have room to add something in honor of your family. Please email pcs@wilsonstpierre.com for pricing or details.
City Tax Levy Per Capita Comparison
These comparisons allow you to compare the amount each resident in our city pays per employee verses the number of employees other cities have and the amount they pay per employee. As you can quickly see, some cities smaller than Greenwood have less employees than we do but pay more per employee such as the City of Lawrence. The City of Lawrence has 14,460 less in population but pays $280 per resident or $0.98 per employee The City of Columbus has 13,356 less in population but pays $686 per resident or $1.53 per employee. The City of Franklin has 38,517 less in population but pays $578 per resident or $3.09 per employee.
Our City Levy Per Capita sorted alphabetical by city name
Our City Tax Levy Per Capita sorted by the total population
Our City Tax Levy Per Capita sorted by Employee lowest to highest cost in the State
GREENWOOD HAS 300 EMPLOYEES AND OUR CITY TAX LEVY PER CAPITA IS $267.56 ACTUAL OR $0.89 PER EMPLOYEE!
GREENWOOD MAY BE PAYING MORE IN HEALTH PREMIUMS PER EMPLOYEE BUT WE ARE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB OF BALANCING OUR DOLLARS…..while MAKING SURE OUR EMPLOYEES and their families HAVE EXCELLENT HEALTH BENEFITS!!!!!
SELECT THE EXPERIENCED AND INFORMED LEADER
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- Greenwood City Council representing District 1– since November 2008 & Council VP since 2021
- Richard Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series Class of 2014-15
- Council liaison to the airport
- Aeronautical Center of Technology Academy Board of Directors since 2021 (Encourage students to pursue aviation related careers by working with local schools)
- Member of Greenwood First Baptist Church since 1979
- The Social of Greenwood (Senior Citizens) Board of Directors since 2009
- Greenwood Village South Board of Directors since 2010 & Finance Committee since 2021
- Miles for Myeloma – volunteer significant hours annually – raising over $7M since inception in 2005
- Veterans Memorial Committee- Memorial will be adjacent to Library
- 100 Women Who Care since 2016 (Steering Committee 2016-18)
- Crime Watch Coordinator – Holman Heights/Forest Park/Reynold/Longden
- Past member of Greenwood Plan Commission
- Past member of Johnson County Solid Waste Management
- Past President of the wife’s auxiliary of the Greenwood Jaycees
- Former Employee of Ernst & Young LLP – 24 Years
- Former Board Member Restore Old Town Greenwood
- Former Board Member Indiana Utility Shareholders Assn-Been to Wash DC 3 times working to limit taxes on investment dividends
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME
By allowing me the opportunity to remain as your council representative, I will continue to:
- Listen and voice/vote your concerns
- Expect the city to operate in a frugal, competent, effective manner without reducing services
- Maximize best use/return/investment of taxpayer’s money
- Support/encourage well planned economic development/increase tax base
- Spend ONLY WHAT WE CAN AFFORD as we plan future of OUR city
- Must save for tomorrow and continuing planning for our future
- Manage city’s money the same as my own!
- Monitor our districts streets, sidewalks and street lights for proper and timely maintenance
I believe my experience, reputation for fairness and community involvement REFLECT MY DEDICATION to serving you and our community.
Common Council District Map
Reference You Can Print
Handy Telephone Numbers
Register to VOTE
Absentee Ballot Application
Where do I VOTE EARLY
Where do I VOTE ELECTION DAY
INTEGRITY MATTERS even when it may not be the politically correct thing to do!
Proudly Paid for by The Committee to Re-Elect Linda Gibson