County council revisits LOIT B tax

Several questions were raised as the Pulaski County Council re-addressed the local option income tax that put a burden on taxpayers last year. 
During a regular meeting Monday night, council member Doug Roth made a motion to rescind the tax. He said he understood why the council thought it was needed at the time, but now he doesn’t think it’s needed. 
Doug Roth said the differences between the 2016 and proposed 2017 budget don’t add up. He said the county has gone from a $6 million budget this year to a proposed $10 million budget next year and he hasn’t received any clear direction as to why. 
One of these issues is that instead of it being spent on a shortfall in the budget, county employees were asking for it to be spent on purchasing trucks and buildings. 
Commissioner Larry Brady, who attended the meeting, reminded the council that the LOIT B funding not only benefits the county but also the county communities such as Winamac, Francesville, Medaryville and Monterey. Those communities receive a portion of the funds to use toward public safety expenses. He said some of the funding is being used to help pay for fire department equipment. 
The county received $599,246 that was distributed between the county and towns.
Councilwoman Linda Powers asked for more information including how the money is being distributed. She would also like to know how it is being spent. 
Doug Roth said the amount of money the other communities are receiving isn’t that much and won’t buy fire trucks. 
Doug Roth’s motion died for a lack of a second. It was decided that it would be discussed further at the next meeting. 
The LOIT B funding for 2017 has been budgeted to cover the costs of the EMS department wages or approximately $408,720.  
After the meeting Doug Roth and Powers said that funding can be found somewhere else in the budget. 
Councilmen Jay Sullivan Jr. and Roger Querry were absent from the meeting. Councilman Mike Tiede officiated the meeting. 

See the full story in the Pulaski County Journal, available in print and e-edition.

Pulaski County Journal

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