Syracuse OKs EDIT

SYRACUSE -ÊBy a vote of 5 to 0, Syracuse Town Council unanimously approved the Economic Development Income Tax Tuesday.

Their approval was for EDIT based on population, the same as Warsaw passed. Syracuse accounts for 4 percent of the population and counts as four of the 100 votes.

Syracuse town manager Matt Vigneault told the council one reason Warsaw voted for EDIT based on population was because EDIT based on assessed evaluation would benefit only Warsaw and Syracuse. A tax based on population would garner Syracuse about $150,000 per year.

"Either version would be enormously effective and helpful," Vigneault said. He said he would suggest they affirm EDIT.

One area where Syracuse would be able to use the funds would be for industrial park expansion, he said.

Council president William Cutter said, "The county could impose a tax on us that wouldn't be beneficial to Syracuse if they wanted to."

Councilman Barbara Carwile said, "The only objection I see is that I would hate to see more taxes placed on people. Once it's in place, it can't be repealed."

Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce President Tim Yeager told the council, "I just want to say that the Chamber of Commerce is in support of the EDIT."

He also said, "The difference with this tax is that it's local money coming back home. We're going to spend the money here at home. The Chamber feels the town should support the tax because there is a lot of things the community can use that money for."

EDIT is based solely on income. Towns receive funds from EDIT based on population or assessed evaluation. The Kosciusko County Council will vote March 4 meeting on EDIT.

The city of Warsaw approved a resolution calling for the county council to establish EDIT at a rate of 0.4 percent beginning in 2000.

In other business, police chief Bill Endler said the IDEX system is up and running. The first day of operation was Friday. Both full-and part-time dispatchers had their training for the system and passed their tests.

IDEX allows a quick license check on an individual when they are pulled over by the police, who immediately get the information back from Indianapolis. The police will also be able to do a records check and check on stolen items.

'I'm really pleased with it," Endler said.

The town council approved the recommendation of new park board member Nancy Duehmig to fulfill Elaine Schenck's term. Schenck resigned from the board and her term would expire in December. Also, Bill Wight was reappointed for an additional four years.

Park Department superintendent Susan Neff said the permanent address for the Syracuse Park Department Internet web site is www.syracuseparks.org.