Syracuse EDIT Share Grows

SYRACUSE -ÊIn its first year of collection, Syracuse will get more money from the County Option Income Tax and the Economic Development Income Tax then they predicted.

However, town officials are being cautious about what to expect after the first year.

At the Syracuse Town Council meeting Tuesday, Syracuse Town Manager Brian Redshaw said the State Board of Accounts told town clerk Elgie Tatman that Syracuse's share of COIT for the first year is $605,000, while the town estimated their share to be $526,000. The town's share of EDIT will be $176,676, but the town estimated it to be $157,186.

Redshaw said he is afraid this may be a one-year phenomenon. Warsaw, he said, has the same problem, as the money they will get the first year is more than they anticipated.

Between EDIT and COIT, the two taxes cannot equal more than 1 percent. The county council approved EDIT this year at 0.3 percent and approved raising COIT from 0.6 to 0.7 percent.

EDIT is a tax based on income. EDIT was devised in the early 1980s to give county and municipal governments greater flexibility to address infrastructure needs that foster economic development.

The state collects and distributes EDIT following the same procedures it collects other state and local taxes. It is paid for by individuals who live and work in the enacting county and by individuals who work in the enacting county but live in another county that does not have EDIT, COIT or the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax.

EDIT can be used for capital improvement projects, infrastructure and similar projects. Anything that regular taxes can be used for, COIT can be used for.

In other business:

• Redshaw said a recent court of appeals ruling requires chiefs of police, as well as any other public officials, to live inside the town limits. Town attorney Mike Reed is checking into it further, he said, to see how it affects Syracuse.

"It'll affect a number of people in Syracuse," said Cutter.

Koble asked if the town could send a letter against the ruling or law. The board then directed Redshaw to do so.

• Approved a drug and alcohol testing policy for all Syracuse employees including volunteer firemen and reserves. The town council members are not included because they are elected officials.

• Held a hearing for public input on the proposed community development block grant application for construction of a senior center as part of the community center.

• Approved the purchase of a digital copier for $6,200 plus the maintenance agreement.

• Approved purchasing boiler and machinery insurance for $1,328. Their current policy expires in October.

• Approved the purchase of five new decorative light fixtures to incorporate into the Ind. 13 widening project for $6,589.20.

• Approved the purchase of a new telephone system for the fire and police departments from Sprint for $9,981.21 plus the maintenance agreeement. The current system in the town hall is experiencing technical difficulties. The other phone system for the other departments in the town hall is not affected.

Tatman told the board the money to pay for the new phone system will come out of cigarette tax money and there is enough money in the fund to do it.

• Town Marshall Tom Perzanowski brought in miscellaneous signs collected throughout Syracuse in one day which were in violation of the town ordinance. The signs ranged from realty companies to "free puppies" signs. Perzanowski said he called the sign owners and warned them that next time they will be cited. The fine for the violation is $100. Signs are not allowed to be affixed to poles, trees or lamps.

He also reported Kathy Deck was hired as the new police secretary. She previously worked at the central office for Wawasee School Corp.

• Fire Chief Larry Hunter reported extrication training for state certification for the fire department will be Oct. 27-29 and will cost $1,000.

The paramedic class will be from January to December 2001 every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be only eight to 10 people in each class. The board approved the paramedic class to be held in the town hall when not in use.

• Approved the purchase of a concrete saw for the utilities department for $1,303.76.

• Approved an ordinance to transfer $10,500 and $4,000 for the clerk's office; $1,500 and $1,700 for the police department; and $2,500 and $2,000 for the park department.

• The board approved Aug. 21 to Aug. 27 as "School's Open Safety Week."

Members of the Syracuse Town Council are Barbara Carwile, Bill Hane, Paul Stoelting, Carol Koble and William Cutter.

Their next meeting is Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.