Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry announced Monday his proposal to annex 23 square miles into the city. About 22,000 people would become Fort Wayne residents if the City Council approves the annexation.
The northern end of Allen County would be annexed in the plan. It would include Gump and Hursh roads to the north, Schwartz Road to the East, Dunton Road to the west and the current city limits to the south.
The city expects to bring in around $10 million more from property taxes, but Mayor Henry says additional expenses will total around $6-7 million every year.
Northwest Allen County Schools would be impacted the most by the annexation, losing roughly $2.5 million in property tax revenue per year. Mayor Henry says the city is trying to work with the affected school districts, which also include East Allen County and Fort Wayne Community Schools.
“We are talking with them about various other possibilities to help lessen that impact, but that’s still very early on,” Henry said.
The fiscal plan of the annexation is expected to be introduced to City Council in late April with possible approval in May. There will be a public hearing in July, and a vote is expected in August. If approved, the area would be annexed on January 1, 2017.
Additional annexation information is available at www.cityoffortwayne.org/annexation.
