10-18-2006A plan to reduce property taxes and establish alternatives for funding local government services has been developed by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks and Winona lake Councilman Jerry Clevenger presented the plan, called Hometown Matters, at the county commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.
The reason for the plan, Wiggins said, is because local budgets are determined by state officials, not by citizens.
With Hometown Matters, local governments could reduce property taxes and generate funds for public services through a local sales tax, a supplemental income tax, an innkeeper’s tax or a local food and beverage tax.
Additional taxes on vehicles registered in the county also could be enacted.
Hicks said she wanted to elicit the commissioners’ support and organize a local task force with municipal council members, clerks, officials and anyone else who wanted to participate to discuss sharing of services.
“We want to educate everyone and demonstrate to the state that we’re active,” Hicks said.
Wiggins said services may have to be cut if money isn’t generated to support them.
A tax levy cap was placed on local government budgets by the legislature in 2004, essentially freezing taxes at 2002 levels.
The board also:
• Approved closing the county assessor’s office half a day so employees could attend the funeral of the late Pat Hurd, longtime Van Buren Township assessor.
• Heard from county administrator Ron Robinson that temperatures in the computer room are too hot and costs to cool down the area will be more than $31,000, which was approved.
County commissioners are Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex.