Residents Have Mixed Reaction To EDIT Proposal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
When the Kosciusko County Council takes up the proposed Economic Development Income Tax Saturday in a special meeting, they will be deciding an issue that prompts strong reactions - pro and con.
Is the measure another grab for public funds by wealthy developers, or is it a judicious use of the government's taxing authority to benefit the community as a whole?
Opinions on both sides of the issue are strongly held. Shaun Bruner, a local builder, says that while he would benefit personally from EDIT if it's used to build a sewer system for Warsaw or the county as a whole, he doesn't believe the tax is needed.
"If the developers want the sewers, let them build it and pay for it - and I'm a builder," he said. "I say, borrow the money, build it, and when someone wants to tie into it, charge them for it."
He contends that the tax would benefit only real estate developers on the backs of the taxpayers.
"If the sewers are there, it saves the developers $10,000 (per lot) that he gets to pocket," Bruner added. "They aren't going to give it back to the buyer."
As for funding infrastructure improvements to attract more business and industry to the county, Bruner said, if that is the desired result, the businesses should pay their own way.
"Businesses should pay for their own tools, just like I had to," he said. "I had to pay for my own sewers and so should they."
Local realtor Bruce Woodward sees the issue in a different light - creating more and better jobs to keep the young people here instead of moving on to greener pastures.
"I see EDIT as a way of keeping the tax dollars here in the county and to have jobs for the young people, so they can stay and raise their families here," he said.
He added that some of the most vocal opponents, such as the Concerned County Citizens, simply do not understand the reasons behind the EDIT proposal.
"I attended a group (CCC) last weekend who are opposed to EDIT. They are woefully uninformed about what EDIT is and why it's needed," he said.
Bob Sanders, of Warsaw, said he thinks EDIT is a good idea because the revenue gained for it must be used for specific projects and doesn't go into the county's or towns' general funds.
"I think this is a good tax because it has to be used for a specific purpose," he said, "It's still going to be up to the county council and the city and town councils to spend it, with public input. So, no one is losing anything here."
George Mann, a Warsaw businessman, isn't convinced EDIT ist needed.
"We don't need EDIT for a sewer system or the jail," he said. "The county and the city already have plenty of money set aside to pay for both of those now, so we don't need a new tax."
The county council will be the ultimate arbiter of the EDIT question and it will make its decision after 3 p.m. Saturday in the old courtroom in the Kosciusko County Courthouse. [[In-content Ad]]
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When the Kosciusko County Council takes up the proposed Economic Development Income Tax Saturday in a special meeting, they will be deciding an issue that prompts strong reactions - pro and con.
Is the measure another grab for public funds by wealthy developers, or is it a judicious use of the government's taxing authority to benefit the community as a whole?
Opinions on both sides of the issue are strongly held. Shaun Bruner, a local builder, says that while he would benefit personally from EDIT if it's used to build a sewer system for Warsaw or the county as a whole, he doesn't believe the tax is needed.
"If the developers want the sewers, let them build it and pay for it - and I'm a builder," he said. "I say, borrow the money, build it, and when someone wants to tie into it, charge them for it."
He contends that the tax would benefit only real estate developers on the backs of the taxpayers.
"If the sewers are there, it saves the developers $10,000 (per lot) that he gets to pocket," Bruner added. "They aren't going to give it back to the buyer."
As for funding infrastructure improvements to attract more business and industry to the county, Bruner said, if that is the desired result, the businesses should pay their own way.
"Businesses should pay for their own tools, just like I had to," he said. "I had to pay for my own sewers and so should they."
Local realtor Bruce Woodward sees the issue in a different light - creating more and better jobs to keep the young people here instead of moving on to greener pastures.
"I see EDIT as a way of keeping the tax dollars here in the county and to have jobs for the young people, so they can stay and raise their families here," he said.
He added that some of the most vocal opponents, such as the Concerned County Citizens, simply do not understand the reasons behind the EDIT proposal.
"I attended a group (CCC) last weekend who are opposed to EDIT. They are woefully uninformed about what EDIT is and why it's needed," he said.
Bob Sanders, of Warsaw, said he thinks EDIT is a good idea because the revenue gained for it must be used for specific projects and doesn't go into the county's or towns' general funds.
"I think this is a good tax because it has to be used for a specific purpose," he said, "It's still going to be up to the county council and the city and town councils to spend it, with public input. So, no one is losing anything here."
George Mann, a Warsaw businessman, isn't convinced EDIT ist needed.
"We don't need EDIT for a sewer system or the jail," he said. "The county and the city already have plenty of money set aside to pay for both of those now, so we don't need a new tax."
The county council will be the ultimate arbiter of the EDIT question and it will make its decision after 3 p.m. Saturday in the old courtroom in the Kosciusko County Courthouse. [[In-content Ad]]