County Takes Care Of Business
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
• Inventory tax under scrutiny
At the Dec. 11 Kosciusko County council meeting, the council will hold a public meeting on eliminating the inventory tax.
However, if the county eliminates that tax, the county may add an additional 0.16 percent rate to the Economic Development Income Tax.
Thursday at the county council meeting, county council president Harold Jones said the council has discussed the elimination of the inventory tax for two years now.
"It's not going to go away itself without some thought," Jones said.
Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor, said the first step in eliminating the inventory tax is looking at the reporting requirements for inventory. That has to be done by the end of the year.
The second step, she said, involves the income tax. The council can consider or not consider putting an additional 0.16 percent EDIT rate on to offset the inventory tax rate lost. She said only those who receive the homestead credit will receive relief from the removal of the inventory tax.
The additional EDIT rate can be done only if the county removes the inventory tax rate early, the council said. Most of the counties to the east and south of Kosciusko County already have passed the elimination of the inventory tax.
Harold Jones, county council president, said the council should at least have the hearing on the issue. If the council doesn't act early on the inventory tax elimination, the county will lose the option of replacing the inventory tax rate with an additional EDIT rate.
Mitchell said all out-of-state inventory tax already has been taken out by the state. This year, Kosciusko County received $6 million in inventory tax, but will receive only $3 million next year because of the elimination of the out-of-state inventory tax. If the county eliminates the inventory tax, another $3 million is lost.
By 2006 pay 2007, the inventory tax is going away statewide anyhow, Mitchell said.
By eliminating the inventory tax now, council member Larry Teghtmeyer said, only the 2004 pay 2005 and 2005 pay 2006 taxes are affected.
Jones said he thought the state would replace the loss of the inventory tax with something else, but the state hasn't.
"It's not as simple sometimes as we might think," said Teghtmeyer. He said the issue is not raising taxes, but simply shifting the taxes from inventory to EDIT.
• Highway dept. to buy loaders
After more than 15 years, vehicles will break down.
And for the Kosciukso County Highway Department, that means three front-end loaders needed replaced this year. Each loader is at least 15 years old.
Thursday, Highway Department Engineer and Superintendent Rob Ladson requested a $115,000 additional appropriation to replace a 1986 loader that needs $10,000 in repairs.
In the spring this year, Ladson told the county council, the department replaced a 1974 loader. Bids were taken for a new loader and the best bid was accepted.
With the 1986 loader that needs replaced, Ladson suggested to the county commissioners they purchase another loader from the same company for the same cost. However, to do so, Ladson would need approval from the county council for the additional appropriation.
The truck company was satisfied with selling the county another loader at the same price as the one that replaced the 1974 loader.
Ladson said his department has the money for the purchase.
While discussing the replacement of the 1986 loader with the county commissioners, Ladson said the idea of also replacing a 1988 loader was discussed also as the county could get a third loader replaced at the same price. The 1988 loader needs replaced soon anyhow.
Harold Jones, county council president, told Ladson his thinking on the matter sounded correct especially since the county has loaders that old that get used as much as the county highway department uses them.
Ron Truex, middle district county commissioner, told the council anyone who operates heavy machinery knows when that machinery gets to be more than 15 years old and breaks down, that machinery is no longer good to anyone.
Asked by councilwoman Charlene Knispel if the old ones needed to be traded in or if they could be used for back-up vehicles, Ladson said the 1986 loader has to be traded in because it needs repaired anyhow. As for the 1988, Ladson said he wants to see what the trade allowance on it will be but he does recommend it be traded in.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer asked if, from a financial standpoint, the county isn't overextending itself with purchasing three loaders. Ladson said he is comfortable with the cost and the department's finances.
The council approved the $115,000 additional appropriation and for Ladson to advertise for another additional appropriation for next month to purchase a third new loader.
• 'GIS Day' Nov. 19
What is the Geographical Imaging System?
Kosciusko County residents and employees can find out all about the county's GIS and Web site Nov. 19 - "GIS Day."
Bill Holder, GIS director, told the county council Thursday that from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Justice Building meeting room, GIS day will be an educational opportunity for the county to learn about GIS. Many invitations were sent out, he said.
The county's Internet Web site also will be shown off as well as "everything" about GIS.
In other business, the county council:
• Heard from Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell the tax bills were mailed and the deadline to pay is Nov. 24.
Many people realized, she said, that just because their property assessments went up, the tax bills didn't necessarily go up.
Last year, the county received $11 million back from the state for credits and this year will receive a shade less than $22 million. However, Mitchell said, she did not know how long the state could continue to do that, and eventually, the tax bills may end up going up.
• Approved the following transfers: Turkey Creek Township Assessor, $1,250; Lake Township Trustee/Assessor, $46; maintenance, $9,000; county commissioners, $200,000 for group insurance; county commissioners, $7,000; 911 funds, $4,000; county highway, $7,194, $10,000 and $11,000.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $30,000 for inmate medical and $36,000 for longevity for the county sheriff's department.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $15,910 for the county health department for truck replacement.
• Approved a $60,000 additional appropriation for the county surveyor for global positioning satellite equipment.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $70,000 for the maintenance department to pay for the county's electric. The maintenance department is broke and the NIPSCO bill exceeded the county's expectation this year.
• Approved a request by Joan Younce, county Extension office, to transfer $1,750 from an existing account to the contractual account for the 2004 budget.
• Approved county councilman Larry Teghtmeyer's nomination of Joy McCarthy-Sessing and Jon Sroufe to serve on the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau commission.
• Approved the 2004 salary ordinance and the 2003 salary ordinances of the assistant work release director and the alcohol and drug prevention assistant.
Members of the Kosciusko County Council are Harold Jones, Tom Anglin, Brad Tandy, John Kinsey, Maurice Beer, Charlene Knispel and Larry Teghtmeyer. Their next meeting is Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]
• Inventory tax under scrutiny
At the Dec. 11 Kosciusko County council meeting, the council will hold a public meeting on eliminating the inventory tax.
However, if the county eliminates that tax, the county may add an additional 0.16 percent rate to the Economic Development Income Tax.
Thursday at the county council meeting, county council president Harold Jones said the council has discussed the elimination of the inventory tax for two years now.
"It's not going to go away itself without some thought," Jones said.
Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor, said the first step in eliminating the inventory tax is looking at the reporting requirements for inventory. That has to be done by the end of the year.
The second step, she said, involves the income tax. The council can consider or not consider putting an additional 0.16 percent EDIT rate on to offset the inventory tax rate lost. She said only those who receive the homestead credit will receive relief from the removal of the inventory tax.
The additional EDIT rate can be done only if the county removes the inventory tax rate early, the council said. Most of the counties to the east and south of Kosciusko County already have passed the elimination of the inventory tax.
Harold Jones, county council president, said the council should at least have the hearing on the issue. If the council doesn't act early on the inventory tax elimination, the county will lose the option of replacing the inventory tax rate with an additional EDIT rate.
Mitchell said all out-of-state inventory tax already has been taken out by the state. This year, Kosciusko County received $6 million in inventory tax, but will receive only $3 million next year because of the elimination of the out-of-state inventory tax. If the county eliminates the inventory tax, another $3 million is lost.
By 2006 pay 2007, the inventory tax is going away statewide anyhow, Mitchell said.
By eliminating the inventory tax now, council member Larry Teghtmeyer said, only the 2004 pay 2005 and 2005 pay 2006 taxes are affected.
Jones said he thought the state would replace the loss of the inventory tax with something else, but the state hasn't.
"It's not as simple sometimes as we might think," said Teghtmeyer. He said the issue is not raising taxes, but simply shifting the taxes from inventory to EDIT.
• Highway dept. to buy loaders
After more than 15 years, vehicles will break down.
And for the Kosciukso County Highway Department, that means three front-end loaders needed replaced this year. Each loader is at least 15 years old.
Thursday, Highway Department Engineer and Superintendent Rob Ladson requested a $115,000 additional appropriation to replace a 1986 loader that needs $10,000 in repairs.
In the spring this year, Ladson told the county council, the department replaced a 1974 loader. Bids were taken for a new loader and the best bid was accepted.
With the 1986 loader that needs replaced, Ladson suggested to the county commissioners they purchase another loader from the same company for the same cost. However, to do so, Ladson would need approval from the county council for the additional appropriation.
The truck company was satisfied with selling the county another loader at the same price as the one that replaced the 1974 loader.
Ladson said his department has the money for the purchase.
While discussing the replacement of the 1986 loader with the county commissioners, Ladson said the idea of also replacing a 1988 loader was discussed also as the county could get a third loader replaced at the same price. The 1988 loader needs replaced soon anyhow.
Harold Jones, county council president, told Ladson his thinking on the matter sounded correct especially since the county has loaders that old that get used as much as the county highway department uses them.
Ron Truex, middle district county commissioner, told the council anyone who operates heavy machinery knows when that machinery gets to be more than 15 years old and breaks down, that machinery is no longer good to anyone.
Asked by councilwoman Charlene Knispel if the old ones needed to be traded in or if they could be used for back-up vehicles, Ladson said the 1986 loader has to be traded in because it needs repaired anyhow. As for the 1988, Ladson said he wants to see what the trade allowance on it will be but he does recommend it be traded in.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer asked if, from a financial standpoint, the county isn't overextending itself with purchasing three loaders. Ladson said he is comfortable with the cost and the department's finances.
The council approved the $115,000 additional appropriation and for Ladson to advertise for another additional appropriation for next month to purchase a third new loader.
• 'GIS Day' Nov. 19
What is the Geographical Imaging System?
Kosciusko County residents and employees can find out all about the county's GIS and Web site Nov. 19 - "GIS Day."
Bill Holder, GIS director, told the county council Thursday that from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Justice Building meeting room, GIS day will be an educational opportunity for the county to learn about GIS. Many invitations were sent out, he said.
The county's Internet Web site also will be shown off as well as "everything" about GIS.
In other business, the county council:
• Heard from Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell the tax bills were mailed and the deadline to pay is Nov. 24.
Many people realized, she said, that just because their property assessments went up, the tax bills didn't necessarily go up.
Last year, the county received $11 million back from the state for credits and this year will receive a shade less than $22 million. However, Mitchell said, she did not know how long the state could continue to do that, and eventually, the tax bills may end up going up.
• Approved the following transfers: Turkey Creek Township Assessor, $1,250; Lake Township Trustee/Assessor, $46; maintenance, $9,000; county commissioners, $200,000 for group insurance; county commissioners, $7,000; 911 funds, $4,000; county highway, $7,194, $10,000 and $11,000.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $30,000 for inmate medical and $36,000 for longevity for the county sheriff's department.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $15,910 for the county health department for truck replacement.
• Approved a $60,000 additional appropriation for the county surveyor for global positioning satellite equipment.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $70,000 for the maintenance department to pay for the county's electric. The maintenance department is broke and the NIPSCO bill exceeded the county's expectation this year.
• Approved a request by Joan Younce, county Extension office, to transfer $1,750 from an existing account to the contractual account for the 2004 budget.
• Approved county councilman Larry Teghtmeyer's nomination of Joy McCarthy-Sessing and Jon Sroufe to serve on the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau commission.
• Approved the 2004 salary ordinance and the 2003 salary ordinances of the assistant work release director and the alcohol and drug prevention assistant.
Members of the Kosciusko County Council are Harold Jones, Tom Anglin, Brad Tandy, John Kinsey, Maurice Beer, Charlene Knispel and Larry Teghtmeyer. Their next meeting is Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]