New mayor outlines items of interest to pursue in 2024

new-mayor-outlines-items-of-interest-to-pursue-in-2024

Newly-elected Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson laid out four ideas he wants to pursue in 2024 at Monday’s first Common Council meeting of the year.

Tax Abatements

Furgeson wants to look at how the tax abatement process works in Shelbyville.

Former city councilman and mayoral candidate Brad Ridgeway was a proponent of restructuring the reward process of a tax abatement. Furgeson mentioned Ridgeway’s push for reform and added he has looked into how the City of Franklin handles tax abatements as a possible guideline.

“We have done tax abatement in the city of Shelbyville the same way for a very long time,” said Furgeson.”There are different ways of doing tax abatement. I believe that maybe we are going to look at changing the way we do tax abatement – not necessarily changing all the formulas.”

Furgeson stressed this would not be a change happening immediately. He wants to meet with the city’s tax abatement committee in the future to discuss the guidelines.

“It is not something that is going to happen tomorrow,” said Furgeson. “For the public record and for the factories we have and the industries we have using these tax abatements, it’s not something that is going to change next week.”

Police Station

Furgeson believes there is a strong need for a new police station in Shelbyville.

As to where to build that station and how to pay for it is still to be determined.

“It is something I believe we need and we are well overdue,” said Furgeson. “It’s not that the county doesn’t want us in their building anymore, but they are out of space themselves. The police station, we are out of space.

“We will be looking toward figuring out how we are going to go about doing that. First of all, we need to figure out where we are going to do it.”

Rebrand Shelbyville

Crediting the idea to new councilwoman Linda Sanders (R-4th Ward) (photo), Furgeson wants to look into a “rebrand” of the city’s motto “Pride and Progress.”

“It’s a little old and a little tired,” said Furgeson. “Do we look at changing our motto?”

Social Media Director

The new mayor, who ran on a campaign platform of increasing city government transparency, is interested in hiring a Social Media Director for the city that could coordinate information for all 13 city departments.

Furgeson stated he is working on a proposal to bring before the Common Council.

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