Council Hears Of Biomet's Expansion Plans
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Biomet's Tom Bauters, director of tax, discussed the company's expansion plans before the county council Thursday.
The company's request for 10 years worth of abatement for two phases of expansion unanimously were approved.
The first phase includes conversion of a warehouse building on Boeing Drive to a manufacturing facility. Costs are about $1.2 million. Plans are to hire 102 people with an estimated payroll of $3.3 million.
The second phase is an addition to Biomet's existing facility. An additional 60,000 square feet to the southwest corner will cost about $9 million. No cost was given if a second story was added.
The company would add an estimated 160 manufacturing jobs with an annual payroll of $5.3 million. An additional $8 million worth of manufacturing equipment would be installed.
Bauters said with the local approval, the company can petition the state for additional incentives.
He said the work that will be done once expansion is complete currently is being outsourced.
Larry Teghtmeyer, prior to the vote, said the county will eventually realize $200,000 in taxes.
He said the council should support corporate citizens that ask for abatements. "Other communities, other states would love to have them," he said.
Bauters said New Jersey had made an attractive offer. "Quite honestly, we're happy to have local abatements to get the state abatement." He said the recent manufacturing program being developed by Ivy Tech State College "is a massively positive program for us."
Ann Zydek, Warsaw Community Public Library director, appeared before the board and discussed a capital project. The library, she said, needs to replace the front doors, improve the humidification system, make a possible land purchase and upgrade computers. The request to spend money for the work was approved.
A tax levy already has been assessed and there will be no increase. WCPL will collect $233,322 for capital projects in the next three years to have a total of about $376,000 available.
The council adopted a $5 dog tax because the state will not be collecting the money anymore. With the county enacting its own levy on canines, $1 goes to the state, 75 cents goes to the issuer of the tag - township trustees or assessors - and the county keeps $3.25.
Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said $13,000 could go to the animal shelter.
She said that in any case the county pays for livestock killed by dogs and that costs about $6,000 per year.
Members kicked around asking for an additional fee when people pick up "runaway" dogs at the shelter, but did not add this cost to the dog tax.
The council also approved several additional appropriations:
• As requested by the surveyor's office, $20,000, coroner perpetuation fund.
• As requested by the prosecutor's office, disbursement of $10,235.78 in infraction deferral funds: One in-car camera for the sheriff's department, $664; a foot pedal for the prosecutor's office, $105; a personal digital assistant for the prosecutor's office, $399.99; two canine units for the Indiana State Police, $3,715.59; lodging for the ISP to attend the World Swat Challenge, $1,716; and two laptop computers for the Drug Task Force, $3,635.20.
• As requested by the clerk's office, $10,000 for the preservation fund.
• As requested by the health department, $30,140.78 for the tuberculosis medical fund's miscellaneous expenses and $2,000 for other miscellaneous expenses.
• As requested by the commissioners, $49,096 for workmen's compensation.
The council heard from County Assessor Laurie Renier, who presented materials about a company that audits business personal property -- Tax Management Associates.
She said if TMA finds "adjustments", the county can collect that money. The county is charged only if discrepancies are discovered.
"It's easy to make a mistake in Indiana taxes, especially for out-of-state companies. They would only be looking at companies making more than $50,000," Renier said.
But Bauters called TMA "hired guns" who don't necessarily want to get a return right, but find a way to increase the return, otherwise they don't get paid. He said he'd run across the associates several times because Biomet has inventory in every hospital in Indiana.
The board set budget hearings for August 28-31.
County council members present were Harold Jones, Teghtmeyer, Tom Anglin, Charlene Knispel and Bob Sanders. John Kinsey and Brad Tandy were absent. [[In-content Ad]]
Biomet's Tom Bauters, director of tax, discussed the company's expansion plans before the county council Thursday.
The company's request for 10 years worth of abatement for two phases of expansion unanimously were approved.
The first phase includes conversion of a warehouse building on Boeing Drive to a manufacturing facility. Costs are about $1.2 million. Plans are to hire 102 people with an estimated payroll of $3.3 million.
The second phase is an addition to Biomet's existing facility. An additional 60,000 square feet to the southwest corner will cost about $9 million. No cost was given if a second story was added.
The company would add an estimated 160 manufacturing jobs with an annual payroll of $5.3 million. An additional $8 million worth of manufacturing equipment would be installed.
Bauters said with the local approval, the company can petition the state for additional incentives.
He said the work that will be done once expansion is complete currently is being outsourced.
Larry Teghtmeyer, prior to the vote, said the county will eventually realize $200,000 in taxes.
He said the council should support corporate citizens that ask for abatements. "Other communities, other states would love to have them," he said.
Bauters said New Jersey had made an attractive offer. "Quite honestly, we're happy to have local abatements to get the state abatement." He said the recent manufacturing program being developed by Ivy Tech State College "is a massively positive program for us."
Ann Zydek, Warsaw Community Public Library director, appeared before the board and discussed a capital project. The library, she said, needs to replace the front doors, improve the humidification system, make a possible land purchase and upgrade computers. The request to spend money for the work was approved.
A tax levy already has been assessed and there will be no increase. WCPL will collect $233,322 for capital projects in the next three years to have a total of about $376,000 available.
The council adopted a $5 dog tax because the state will not be collecting the money anymore. With the county enacting its own levy on canines, $1 goes to the state, 75 cents goes to the issuer of the tag - township trustees or assessors - and the county keeps $3.25.
Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said $13,000 could go to the animal shelter.
She said that in any case the county pays for livestock killed by dogs and that costs about $6,000 per year.
Members kicked around asking for an additional fee when people pick up "runaway" dogs at the shelter, but did not add this cost to the dog tax.
The council also approved several additional appropriations:
• As requested by the surveyor's office, $20,000, coroner perpetuation fund.
• As requested by the prosecutor's office, disbursement of $10,235.78 in infraction deferral funds: One in-car camera for the sheriff's department, $664; a foot pedal for the prosecutor's office, $105; a personal digital assistant for the prosecutor's office, $399.99; two canine units for the Indiana State Police, $3,715.59; lodging for the ISP to attend the World Swat Challenge, $1,716; and two laptop computers for the Drug Task Force, $3,635.20.
• As requested by the clerk's office, $10,000 for the preservation fund.
• As requested by the health department, $30,140.78 for the tuberculosis medical fund's miscellaneous expenses and $2,000 for other miscellaneous expenses.
• As requested by the commissioners, $49,096 for workmen's compensation.
The council heard from County Assessor Laurie Renier, who presented materials about a company that audits business personal property -- Tax Management Associates.
She said if TMA finds "adjustments", the county can collect that money. The county is charged only if discrepancies are discovered.
"It's easy to make a mistake in Indiana taxes, especially for out-of-state companies. They would only be looking at companies making more than $50,000," Renier said.
But Bauters called TMA "hired guns" who don't necessarily want to get a return right, but find a way to increase the return, otherwise they don't get paid. He said he'd run across the associates several times because Biomet has inventory in every hospital in Indiana.
The board set budget hearings for August 28-31.
County council members present were Harold Jones, Teghtmeyer, Tom Anglin, Charlene Knispel and Bob Sanders. John Kinsey and Brad Tandy were absent. [[In-content Ad]]