Last night’s meeting of the Brownsburg town council saw over 200 Brownsburg residents and future residents pack Brownsburg town hall to have their voices heard before the Council voted to annex nearly 4500 acres of land just north of the town.

The vast majority that came to last night’s meeting opposed the annexation as they raised concerns that their utility bills would go up while taking money away from the Brownsburg Community School Corporation. Concerns in regards to re-zoning also were raised. Brownsburg town council President Dwayne Sawyer and Councilman Rob Kendall assured residents that many of their concerns had already been addressed especially those relating to the possible loss of revenue by the school corporation.

In a recent vote by the Brownsburg Redevelopment Commission, an amended TIF package was designed to help minimize the financial impact of the annexation on the town schools. Kendall further noted that the annexation would provide money for improvements needed to attract high-end commercial development. Development would be planned for Indiana 267, Ronald Reagan Pkwy. and Tilden Street.

The meeting between the Council and residents was at best contentious and at times raucous. Upon the conclusion of comments by local residents, the Council voted 3 – 2 in favor of annexation.

Sabrina Graham, leader of the anti-annexation group, says the group will now move toward collecting petition signatures for remonstrating. By law, signatures are needed from 65% of property owners in the newly annexed areas to take the issue to court. The group has 90 days to collect the needed signatures which Graham said they are confident they can reach.