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August 2008 |
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Sharing their views on spending taxpayer cash |
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Monday, April 21 2008 |
By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer
With the May 6 primary election getting closer, the candidates in the at-large county council race on the Republican ticket took a chance Saturday morning to get their message to local supporters.
Taking questions from the audience, the candidates discussed a variety of issue from local budgets, to taxes and EMS services.
In their opening statements, nearly all the candidates said Whitley County and its government was doing well, especially in light of upcoming budget cuts, something a resident wanted to know more about.
How good is good?
Scott Darley said that although the county’s general fund is a little tight, the income tax and rainy day funds are doing very well.
He said the amount of money in the rainy day fund should be enough to offset losses to the general fund from recent tax cuts.
“We’re not facing the shortages other counties are,” Darley said.
Candidate Steve Hively said he wasn’t as convinced about the county’s situation, adding he was not a fan of the local work release center and other “pet projects.”
He added that many of the roads in the county are also in poor condition.
Candidate Jim Banks said although the county may be doing well, it could still do better in some areas.
“I’ve knocked on almost 2,000 doors and people are suffering,” he said of their living expenses.
Citing a recent rise in local unemployment, Banks said it was important to help local businesses build and stay strong.
Bill Overdeer kept his answer brief and said the budget shortfalls the county will experience are insignificant compared to the overall funding levels.
Tom Western said the “good leadership” of the past has helped the county’s current situation, which will make budget cuts in the future easier to handle.
Ways to help small businesses
In response to a question from the owner of a small, local business about how they could be helped, the candidates said low local taxes and working with the Economic Development Corporation were the best ways to help.
Western said keeping property taxes low for businesses will not only lower their costs, but allow the public to have more income to spend on business services.
Overdeer also said keeping taxes low on businesses was the best way to help them, but there are also other options and assistance available from the county in the form of abatements if businesses want to expand.
Banks said he feels economic development starts with small businesses, and that he would not support the wheel tax when it’s up for a vote again, or a local option income tax.
He said working with the local Economic Development Corporation can also be helpful to businesses.
Hively said restraining county spending was an important priority, citing an effort to get local government departments to do their own data entry to the county’s geographic information system rather than pay for another company to do so.
“In some cases, we need a little more efficiency,” he said.
Darley said tax abatements were one of the best ways to help local businesses succeed.
Ensuring high-quality ambulance service
In response to a question from Don Amber, a local medic, about whether the candidates would support a local tax option to fund EMS needs, the candidates said they weren’t sure the exact way to do so just yet, but all agreed that the level of service for EMS needs should not drop.
Overdeer said that up until a couple of years ago, it was supported with a local tax, but was then shifted to the county economic development income tax.
He said the county is obligated to offer quality service from its EMS crews.
“We have to find a way to fund it,” he said.
Western said there would not need to be an additional tax because of the money coming from CEDIT funds.
He said it would not be fair to residents to cut the level of service and it should not be lowered.
Darley said he would support such a tax if one was required, but he likes the current system in place and the funding needs to grow.
Hively said he was part of the committee that started the current EMS service plan and that he would need to know more before he committed to any tax increases.
Banks said it the EMS system needs to be a “top priority” for the next county council and that the level of service provided should not decrease.
The Kernan-Sheppard report
Residents also wanted to know the candidates feelings on the recent Kernan-Sheppard report, which details several suggested changes to local governments.
Darley said he was opposed to it and the recommendations to reduce county government.
“I like the idea that there are three distinct county commissioners,” he said, referring to the report’s recommendation to go from a board of commissioners to a county executive.
He also does not support having the county council be the oversight committee for all local taxing entities.
“I don’t think that Scott Darley from South Whitley should be looking into the budget of the Churubusco Library,” he said.
That was a point Banks disagreed with, saying that keeping taxes low throughout the county was a responsibility of the county council.
Overdeer said he is “vigorously opposed” the report and although he hopes it doesn’t get passed by state legislators, the county will have to deal with the changes if they occur.
Western said he is also not in favor of it and that it will have a negative affect on Whitley County, but that the county will have to work with it, whether it wants to or not.
Should longevity pay stay?
Regarding a question from the audience about longevity pay, Darley said it can be a good policy and that the pay between supervisors of departments and other employees in that department are usually balanced out eventually.
Hively said it was good to reward employees for continued service and that he supports the policy.
Banks disagreed, saying he would not accept it if offered, and although elected officials deserve to be rewarded, they know pay rate going into the job.
Overdeer said he supports longevity pay.
Western said he does not support it, but that there is not a significant amount of money being spent on longevity pay. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, April 22 2008 )
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