Q. Why is the Conservancy able to offer most of its residents sanitary sewer service at a much lower cost than other municipalities?
A. Our Bonds are paid and we are debt free. We have a modest facility (see picture) and have no plans to build a fancy new headquarters or incur any major purchases. The directors have been sensitive to tax increases historically and since our system is paid for, the high cost of expanding service to new areas, digging around skyscrapers, and payments for principal and interest for municipal bonds is avoided. Additionally, the use of a property tax is simple and a bureaucratic system of checking water bills, sending statements, collecting sewer bills, with a collection cost, attorney fees, ect. is entirely avoided in the Conservancy
Q. Are the sanitary sewers of the Conservancy in reasonably good shape?
A. Yes. While our sewer lines are over 50 years old, new technologies ( such as televising and videotaping sewer lines and the lining of sewer lines with new materials) have shown that we can quickly detect problems with sewer lines and remedy the problem with newer and better materials. The new technology which allows us to get inside the lines and virtually see the problem has shown that our sewer lines are in good shape and can be reasonably maintained with just a modest annual maintenance.
Q. Would some of the residents be better off if the Conservancy was dissolved and the City of Indianapolis took over the functions of the Conservancy?
A. A few. About 12% of the freeholders in the Conservancy would benefit with the implementation of a user fee based upon average water consumption. 88% of the residents however, would have to pay higher bills and would thus be hurt financially if the City took over the functions of the Conservancy. Unfortunately, it is the little quy who owns the more modest home and who is typically hard-pressed for cash who would hurt the most.
A. If your home or parcel of real estate has an assessed value ( not fair market value ) of approximately $52,500 or above and your are an "average" water user, you would pay a lower cost for sanitary sewage if you were in the Indianapolis sanitary district according to the lastest study. "Assessed value" is typically less than what your home would be worth if sold for its fair market value. While it is difficult to equate fair market value with assessed value, we feel that the "break even point" is approximately $ 80,000.00 of fair market value. If the fair market value of your home is $ 80,000.00 or less, you probably benefit by being in the Conservancy. This study, however, did not take into account the fact that property taxes are deductible for state and local income taxation while user fees are not. Therefore, each homeowner would have to do a careful analysis of his or her own situation to determine the benefit of the Conservancy.
Q. How can I determine if I benefit from the Ben Davis Conservancy?
Q. What is the average cost of the Ben Davis Conservancy in relation to other sewer districts?
Q. Assuming I own property at the assessed value listed below and I am an average user of water, how much would I pay for sanitary sewer in the Ben Davis Conservancy District and hypothetically in the Indianapolis sanitary district (should the Conservancy be dissolved and I am thrown into the Indianapolis Sanitary District) using the latest engineering study?
A. There has been an effort almost since the Conservancy district was created to get rid of the Conservancy. The largest and most expensive home in the Conservancy, which is in the Heatherwood Addition, has an assessed value of $150,800.00 and now pays $12.20 per month more for sanitary sewers than if the home was in the Indianapolis sanitary district.
Q. Is there an effort to dissolve the Conservancy?
A. Using the latest study, these are the computations:
Assessed Value Annual Cost of Sewers in Annual Cost for Sewers in Difference
of Property* Indianapolis Sanitary DistrictBen Davis ConservancyPer Year
$ 9,000.00* 172.93 29.81 143.12
$15,000.00* 172.94 49.68 123.26
$22,500.00* 172.94 74.52 98.42
$30,000.00* 172.95 99.36 73.59
$37,500.00* 172.96 124.20 48.76
$45,000.00* 172.97 149.04 23.93
$50,000.00* 172.97 165.60 7.37
$52,500.00* 172.97 173.88 -0.91
$60,000.00* 172.98 198.92 -25.94
$67,500.00* 172.99 223.56 -50.57
$75,000.00* 173.00 248.40 -75.40
$90,000.00* 173.01 298.08 -125.07
* This is not the "fair market value" for your property. The "assessed value" is the amount
placed on the property by the Township Assessor. The fair market value is usually more
and is the amount your home is actually worth on the market.
Q. Does the City of Indianapolis want to take over the Conservancy?
A. There is nothing that indicates that the City has any interest in any takeover. The relationship between the City and the Conservancy has usually been one of mutual respect and cooperation. The impetus to take over the Conservancy appears to be initiated by a few taxpayers who realize that government can be manipulated to benefit a few to the detriment of the vast majority.
