Big Day for Public Notices - IPS, Lawrence, Beech Grove, Pike & Utility Sale

Today's Indianapolis Star has lots of public notices for local school districts as well as a notice related to the sale of the Indianapolis water and sewer utilities.

The annual financial reports for IPS, Lawrence, and Beech Grove school districts are up. I cannot overstate the amount of useful information included in these reports. They include information on the number and salary range of administrators, non-certified staff salary ranges, teacher salaries plus extra-curricular compensation, a comparison of the budgeted expenses and how much was actually spent, tax rates for 2009 and 2010, a list of all vendors who were paid over $2500, a list of debt, budgeted vs. actual revenues, and school enrollment by grade level.

MSD Pike Township has its notice of tax levies for the upcoming budget process. With an estimated 2011 budget of $132,450,982, they expect a maximum property tax levy of $40,049,800, little changed from $40,050,402 this year. Also noticed are the 3-year capital projects fund plan and bus replacement plan. A public hearing on all will be held August 26, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the Board Room, ASC - no street address given. The Board is expected to vote on the budget at its September 16 meeting.

Lastly, there is also a public notice saying that the utility deal has been sent to the IURC for review. This is available on the IndyStar website here. It is noted that it is cause number 43936. No hearing date is disclosed. This notice is pasted below:

BEFORE THE INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION CAUSE NO. 43936 JOINT PETITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR UTILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES OF THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, D/B/A CITIZENS ENERGY GROUP, CWA AUTHORITY, INC., THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND ITS DEPARTMENT OF WATERWORKS AND ITS SANITARY DISTRICT FOR APPROVALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF CERTAIN WATER UTILITY ASSETS TO THE BOARD AND THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF CERTAIN WASTEWATER UTILITY ASSETS TO THE AUTHORITY, INCLUDING: (A) APPROVAL OF INITIAL RATES AND RULES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE , AS WELL AS THE TERMS OF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SERVICE; (B) APPROVAL OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE PLAN UNDER IND. CODE 8-1-28 AND AN ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR WASTEWATER RATES TO PROVIDE TIMELY RECOVERY OF COSTS NECESSARY TO COMPLY IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITH THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT AND/OR CLEAN WATER ACT; (C) APPROVAL OF PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS OF CORPORATE SUPPORT SERVICES COSTS AMONG AFFECTED UTILITIES; (D) APPROVAL OF AN OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITIZENS ENERGY GROUP AND CWA AUTHORITY, INC.;(E) APPROVAL OF DEPRECIATION RATES AND OTHER ACCOUNTING MATTERS RELATED TO THE WATER AND WASTEWATER ASSETS; AND (F) ANY OTHER APPROVALS NEEDED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
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LEGAL NOTICE
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PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that on August 11, 2010, the Board of Directors for Utilities (“Board”) of the Department of Public Utilities of the City of Indianapolis, along with CWA Authority, Inc. (the “Authority”), the City of Indianapolis, Indiana (the “City”), the Department of Waterworks (the “DOW”) of the City, acting by and through its Board of Waterworks and the Sanitary District of the City (the “Sanitary District”), acting by and through its Board of Public Works, (collectively the “Petitioners”) filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) a verified petition requesting approvals relating to the proposed acquisition of certain water utility assets by the Board from the City and DOW and the proposed acquisition of certain wastewater utility assets by the Authority from the City and Sanitary District. Among other relief, the Board is seeking authority to adopt the schedules of rates and charges applicable to the provision of water utility service by the DOW in effect on the closing date. The Authority is seeking Commission approval of its use of the schedule of rates and charges applicable to the provision of wastewater utility service by the Sanitary District, as set forth in the City’s rate Ordinance. The Authority also is seeking Commission approval of an environmental compliance plan under Ind. Code 8-1-28 and authority to implement an adjustment mechanism for wastewater rates and charges to provide timely recovery of future environmental compliance plan expenditures necessary for the Authority to comply in whole or in part with the Safe Drinking Water Act and/or Clean Water Act, as well as other requisite relief. A copy of the Petitioners’ verified petition is on file with the Commission in Cause No. 43936 and details supporting the relief requested therein will be provided in the Petitioners’ testimony and exhibits to be filed with the Commission in Cause No. 43936. Board of Directors for Utilities of the Department of Public Utilities of the City of Indianapolis, d/b/a Citizens Energy Group and CWA Authority, Inc. By: Carey B. Lykins, President and Chief Executive Officer (S - 8/14/10 - 5694640) - 08/14