2023 Indiana Code › Title 10. Public Safety › Article 18. War Memorials › Chapter 3. City and County War Memorials › 10-18-3-12. Tax Exemption; Establishing Memorial and Board of Trustees

Sec. 12. (a) If a city desires to erect or establish a memorial and the common council of the city:
(1) adopts a resolution declaring the desire;
(2) pledges the city to proceed promptly to erect the memorial in or near the city; and
(3) files a certified copy of the resolution with the board of county commissioners before the board has made an order granting a petition for a county memorial;
the taxable property of the city is exempt from the taxation authorized in this chapter for the erection, establishment, management, maintenance, repair, improvement, and extension of a county memorial. However, if the city, within one (1) year from the date of the order, has not in good faith begun the erection or establishment of a memorial that costs as much or more than the amount that would be derived from taxation of the taxable property of the city for the erection or establishment of the county memorial, then the exemption fails, and the property of the city shall be taxed for the county memorial in the same manner as other property of the county is taxed.
(b) If a person, an association, or a corporation establishes or erects in a city a suitable memorial for the permanent use of all people of the city as provided in section 15 of this chapter, and the cost of the memorial is equal to or more than the amount that would be derived from taxation of the property of the city for the erection or establishment of a county memorial, then the taxable property of the city is exempt from the taxation authorized in this chapter for the erection, establishment, management, maintenance, repair, improvement, and extension of a county memorial. However, the exemption fails unless the donor files with the board of county commissioners of the county in which a city is located a certificate signed by the donor declaring the intention to immediately begin the establishment or erection of the memorial. The signed certificate must be filed with the board of county commissioners before the board has issued an order granting a petition for a county memorial.
(c) A corporation, instead of filing the certificate described in subsection (b), shall file with the board a certified copy of a resolution of its board of directors declaring the intention to immediately begin the establishment or erection of the memorial. The resolution must declare that the title to the memorial and the land upon which it is located are held by a board of trustees composed of five (5) members. The board of trustees and its successors are appointed by each donor. If there is a failure to make an appointment, the city council of the city shall have appointive power.
(d) The donors shall create an efficient organization among the people of the city to manage, maintain, repair, and improve the memorial under the powers and restrictions described in section 15 of this chapter. The organization consists of six (6) citizens of the city. Members of the organization:
(1) serve in a manner and for a term as lawfully provided by the donors;
(2) act in conjunction with the board of trustees as a board of managers; and
(3) have full charge and supervision of the establishment and erection of the memorial and its management, maintenance, repair, and improvement.
If the cost of management, maintenance, repair, and improvement exceeds the income derived from the memorial, the costs must be provided by voluntary contributions, donations, or endowments. The board of managers shall organize and adopt rules and bylaws for the conduct of its business as are usually adopted by similar bodies.
(e) If the memorial building and ground cease to be used for this purpose, the trustees shall reconvey the title to the donors, their heirs, successors, or assigns.
[Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-7-5-12.]
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.9.