BY BILL DOLAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
bdolan@nwitimes.com
219.662.5328
CROWN POINT | A last-minute shift on the Lake County Council appears to be a belated Christmas gift to opponents of a Lake County income tax.
County Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said Thursday he is prepared to vote against the 1 percent personal income tax he supported only last week because its redistribution as property tax relief would be unfair under the current proposal.
"I've been waiting a month for this hybrid option, but we don't have it yet," Bilski said.
Four council members who support the tax are counting on Bilski's vote today to overcome a veto on the tax by the Lake County Board of Commissioners.
Bilski said he has been soul searching since his vote for the tax. "I did not feel comfortable after that night. I've been meeting with our mayors and talking to everyone.
"My problem is how we get property tax relief to the people who need it, our elderly and poor. We need to create a dollar for dollar exchange. We need to send that option downstate with marching orders to our state delegates and say don't come back until you get this done," Bilski said.
The council's fiscal consultant has produced studies that indicate some communities will receive fewer dollars in property tax relief than they would pay of income tax because current law doesn't guarantee income tax dollars stay in their home communities.
Bilski's new resolve is music to the ears of County Councilman Tom O'Donnell, D-Dyer, who voted against the tax last month, but took political flack when he was absent for last week's vote.
"I am still a no vote," he said, adding he will not miss today's vote. Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, has remained opposed to the income tax for months.
Council members Christine Cid, D-East Chicago; Ernie Dillon, D-Hammond; Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, and Will Smith Jr., D-Gary, have supported the tax.
Lake is the only county in the state without an income tax. State officials are pressing for its adoption under a state law and mandating the $78 million county residents, workers and some business investors would pay be used to reduce property taxes.
The current tax ordinance would limit property tax relief to owner-occupied homes.
Blanchard contends communities where income and home ownership are high would be favored over East Chicago, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station, Merrillville, New Chicago and Schneider, where renters and homeowners already under a tax cap would receive little or no relief from an income tax.
State officials will withhold $15 million from municipal, township and county government budgets next year by freezing their property tax levies if no income tax is approved.