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Tom Anglin, Kosciusko County Councilman, voted against all four abatement issues before the county council Thursday.
But with the other six councilmen voting for them, they all were approved.
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Inc. sought a tax abatement for two "very large" presses and equipment to make them run, according to their attorney Rick Helm. Thirty-five new employees will be hired with the new equipment.
According to Helm, a tax abatement is "not no taxes, but it is a delaying and gradual incorporation of a new tax base."
Councilman John Kinsey asked if the new 35 employees were full time since Donnelley has had layoffs.
Darrell Taylor, with Donnelley, said they all would be full time. The new presses operate under a different printing process which will help keep the workload at Donnelley more consistent. He said Donnelley hopes to alleviate the ebb and flow of the workload.
Large companies like Donnelley will always have their ups and downs. "I don't think it's a new thing," Helm said.
The first press will be at Donnelley by April 1, said Michael Getz, Donnelley, and the second in July 2006.
Helm said the project will cost an estimated $37 million.
Will the new presses, councilwoman Charlene Knispel asked, create work for people laid off?
"Absolutely," said Taylor. The new presses will create stability to the workforce.
"This will give us more work spread out evenly," said Getz.
Brad Tandy, councilman, made the motion to approve the abatement for 10 years.
North Central Cooperative Inc. requested an abatement for the construction of a facility for the production of three different fertilizer products, plus equipment. Helm said three full-time jobs will be created and another six to eight jobs will be retained within the company.
Anglin asked if the North Central made an agricultural product.
"In that category, yes," replied Helm.
Anglin then asked why a farmer, which is agriculture, can't get a tax abatement. The federal legislature, Helm said, would have to be lobbied to change the IRS rules.
Anglin's business is agriculture, he told Helm. "I don't understand the difference. We can't get a tax abatement but you can."
Helm said he couldn't tell him why one can and one can't, other than there is a distinction in the codes.
"What's the environment impact?" asked councilman Larry Teghtmeyer.
"Very, very minimal," said Mark Tullis, representing North Central.
"There's a number of state regulatory bodies that have their say in that issue," said Helm.
Traditionally, said council president Harold Jones, the council allowed a 10-year abatement on real estate and 5 years on equipment.
Teghtmeyer said the 10-year abatement for Donnelley's equipment was a special exception because of the cost of those machines. The council approved a 5-year abatement on the Cooperative's personal property and 10 years on the real estate.
Buhrt Engineering & Construction Inc. requested an abatement hearing, and the council approved to hear it, though no representatives of Buhrt were present.
"Tax abatement! Tax abatement!" said Anglin after saying everyone wants one.
The fourth tax abatement issue for the county council was just an approval of the statement of benefits for Machining Concepts Inc.
In other business, the county council:
• Held the library capital projects hearing for Bell Memorial Library, Mentone, which was approved at a tax rate of $0.0133, which will raise $16,850 for the library.
• Held the library capital projects hearing for Milford Library, which was approved at a tax rate of $0.0167, raising $38,080 for the library.
• Approved the reappointment of Anthony Etienne to the Warsaw Community Public Library.
• Approved a $400,000 additional appropriation for the Kosciusko County Highway for road work.
• Approved an additional appropriation of $3.2 million from the cumulative capital development fund for the county courthouse renovations. According to county administrator Ron Robinson, the renovation started Monday in the boiler room.
Bids for the work release center kitchen will be opened by the county commissioners May 31, he said. As the center is experiencing roof leaks, Robinson said that will need to be addressed.
• Approved the transfer of $2,694.52 from capital outlay in law enforcement forfeitures to operating expenses.
• Approved the transfer of $2,729.51 for Circuit and Superior Court I from probation secretary to part time; and $23,627.49 from probation secretary to probation part time.
• Approved a transfer totaling $102,278 for the Emergency 911 telephone system from four dispatcher accounts to the City of Warsaw. The city and county dispatchers were not merged this year as planned so the transfer is necessary to meet the contract signed by the county commissioners with Warsaw to reimburse them for three dispatchers plus $212.
• Approved to increase the salary for one legal intern as requested by Judge Rex Reed from $8.25 per hour to $10 per hour. The intern will work in June, July and part of August. Reed has two applicants in mind for the position, said Robinson.
County councilmen are Harold Jones, Tom Anglin, Brad Tandy, Larry Teghtmeyer, John Kinsey, Charlene Knispel and Bob Sanders. They meet at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the second Thursday of every month.
