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A 3-year, $200,000 tax increase for a library projects was approved Saturday in a special meeting of the Kosciusko County council.
Warsaw Community Public Library Director Ann Zydek appeared before council members, explaining that the levy will be used for two purposes: to upgrade the automation system's infrastructure and to purchase replacement and other upgrade computer equipment.
In 2002 the library plans to purchase a major upgrade from Epixtech's Dynix system to a Horizon/Sunrise system.
Citizens in Warsaw, Winona Lake and Wayne Township will pay an increase of 4 cents in 2002 and 2 cents in 2003 and 2004 for the improvements.
Zydek said the Horizon/Sunrise system will cost $141,000 and the rest of the funding will provide additions, improvements and replacements to computer lab computers.
"Do you guarantee no access to pornography?" asked councilman John Kinsey, and the WCPL director said not yet.
"The government has made this ruling," she said, "but has not yet recommended any effective filtering software."
The council also approved Ron Robinson to act as purchaser when the county considers the acquisition of real estate.
"You don't have anything else to do. Why can't he do this?" said Jim Tranter, council president, of the busy administer.
Tranter explained there are seven councilmen and three commissioners - 10 people - who have to look at property under consideration. With Robinson as purchaser, he will arrange for three appraisals of the land under consideration. The information will be brought to the council and commissioners before a decision to buy is made.
Robinson also said construction on the Justice Building/ Kosciusko County Jail project is two months ahead of schedule and materials are arriving sooner than expected.
He advised the council to expect change orders to pay for the deliveries.
County auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said the state has released $3 million of the county's $6 million in County Option Income Tax funds it has been holding. She said any money not encumbered can go into a rainy day fund.
The council approved a $5 user fee for transfers in the auditor's office. Mitchell said there are no fees presently. The fees go into effect July 1. The auditor advised that taxpayers will see another increase because the personal property tax replacement credit ends this year.
"Most people's taxes just went up and when the personal property tax replacement credit is gone they're really going to get zapped," she said.
Council members are Jim Tranter, Larry Teghtmeyer, John Kinsey, Tom Anglin and Maurice Beer, Brad Tandy and Harold Jones.
