CED Annexation Policy Plan 1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The growth on the City's fringe has produced a complex pattern of government by multiple jurisdictions. In many areas, there is no discernible difference between what is inside or outside the City. This urban mix of City and County jurisdictions creates confusing service delivery areas promoting administrative duplication and excessive costs among the various units of government such as: • Confusion for proper jurisdictional response by police and fire; • increased County and Township budgets (rise in tax levies) to pay for urban -type services, such as higher roadway maintenance, fire and service delivery systems and administ-rative costs; • generally incompatible land use regulations providing similar neigh- boring properties with inconsistent development patterns; and, • availability and use of City services and facilities paid for and maintained by City residents, but used by County residents. Greater pressure and responsibility is being applied and experienced at both the County and Township level of government for the provision of urban -type services, or what would commonly be viewed as services traditionally provided by the City. Service levels are a reflection of tax rates and both can vary depending upon one's location within the urban area. In fact, a review of published tax rates shows that over the past five year period, the rates in the unincorporated portions of the collar townships have increased while the portion of these same townships located within the corporate limits have actually decreased. Annexation offers a taxing structure that can provide for a coordinated approach to infrastructure improvement and maintenance. A unified growth plan for the City and the proposed annexation areas will alleviate long-term development of redundant services and prevent contradictory land use development. 4. The Need for Annexation Annexation is a systematic process that traditionally has been the primary ich cities regulate their physical expansion. But the need and means by wh justification to annex is driven by far more than just a desire for additional land. Areas beyond the City limits have often developed as a legitimate response to the need for larger lot sizes or a more rural setting, or simply the availability of land. But they can also represent attempts to participate in the social, educational, cultural or commercial activities of South Bend without paying the taxes which support them. The issues associated with the need to consider annexation are discussed below. Whether the City annexes or not, the present issues and problems created by growth on the urban fringe will continue to affect the City in the future. 5