An inmate sleeps on his bunk at the Hancock County Jail on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Staff photo by Tom Russo
An inmate sleeps on his bunk at the Hancock County Jail on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Staff photo by Tom Russo
GREENFIELD — Should the referendum fail, putting county leaders’ plans to hike property taxes to support a new criminal justice complex project on hold, a question looms: Then what?

If the majority of voters cast ballots against the tax increase May 8, the Hancock County Council and board of commissioners still can move forward with the proposed $55 million project. The commissioners would need to approve the design plans for the project, which includes a new jail, and the council would need to reach a decision about how to fund the construction another way.

County officials still could vote to move the project forward considering other funding options. For example, they could choose to hike the local income tax, which comes out of Hancock County workers’ wages — a move that just got a lot easier thanks to new state law.

Gov. Eric Holcomb recently signed a bill into law that gives county councils the power to set a new tax rate to specifically cover the costs of a new correctional or rehabilitation facility.

The law specifies the tax rate must be done only in increments of 0.01 percent and may not exceed 0.2 percent; and that increase may not be in effect for more than 20 years.

Any revenue generated by this tax increase must go directly into the county’s coffers to be applied to any loan or construction payments; any remaining money would be distributed among the municipalities within county lines.

Increases to income tax rates typically need to be approved by the state Legislature before going into effect; the new law was proposed after 15 Indiana counties in 2017 asked lawmakers to approve incomes tax increases in their areas, saying they need the additional revenue to help build new county jails.

Commissioner Brad Armstrong said he believes combining increases to both the income tax and property taxes is the fairest way to pay for the new jail; but his board will recommend the council consider raising income taxes, should the referendum fail May 8.

The need for a new facility isn’t going anywhere, he said; the overpopulation issues the county is currently facing will only increase in years to come, as the county’s population continues to grow.

Jeannine Gray said she and six other members of the county council have had a lot of preliminary “what if” discussions ahead of the May 8 elections, but they’re hesitant to make an solid backup plans for if the public turns down Plan A.

She understands that the council’s indecision might frustrate some, agrees “it’s always concerning when there is so much gray, when you want black and white,” she said.

But she asked for residents’ patience. The council just wants to hear from them before deciding how best to move forward. After that, and once local leaders have set design plans and a firmer price tag, they’ll be more ready to move forward, to do any “financial gymnastics” it might take to cover the cost of the project, she said.

Gray encouraged voters to remain involved in the months ahead. After all, the conversations about the jail won’t end when the polls close, she said.
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