As the new board gets organized, the Geist Lake Coalition will continue seeking donations for algae treatments in 2027
The Geist Reservoir Conservancy District is beginning its work with a significant financial challenge: special benefit property taxes will not appear on tax bills until spring 2028, leaving the newly formed district essentially without revenue for the next 18 months.
That funding gap was a central topic at the district’s second board meeting, held October 15 at the Indianapolis Yacht Club. Approximately 18 residents attended as board members discussed the organizational groundwork needed to move the district forward.
For now, the unpaid volunteer board is working through basic administrative needs while operating with no money. Securing directors and officers insurance, establishing a mailing address, and setting board meeting schedules for 2027 were on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the Geist Lake Coalition, which has served as a caretaker of Geist Reservoir since 2000, continues to play an important role during the transition. Coalition president Cory Peter, representing district 6, and other coalition members are working with the new district to help carry that stewardship forward.
The delay in tax revenue means the coalition’s fundraising work must also continue. Donations will still be needed to pay for algae treatments in 2027, even as the conservancy district prepares to assume its responsibilities. Establishing the district does not immediately provide the money needed to support those treatments.
At the meeting, Dale Glick of Commonwealth Engineering presented a draft master plan to the board. The plan is being developed for submission to the state for approval, making its review another key part of the district’s early work.
The discussion highlighted two timelines facing the board: the immediate need to organize and prepare, and the longer wait for tax revenue to support district operations. With spring 2028 still approximately a year and a half away, that funding delay will shape what the board can accomplish in the near term.
For residents, the transition means continued reliance on volunteer leadership and community financial support. While the conservancy district builds its administrative foundation and works through the master plan, the coalition will continue seeking donations to help address the reservoir’s algae treatment needs.
The Geist Reservoir Conservancy District’s next board meeting will be held in January 2027.
