The committee charged with crafting a proposal for Evansville-Vanderburgh County government consolidation almost has its operating money.
The County Council voted Wednesday to appropriate $108,500 to fund the work of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Reorganization Committee, with the possibility that the city will reimburse half of that amount.
The City Council is expected to consider appropriating its half of the money — about $54,000 — on Monday night.
The $108,500 total would be divided up this way:
$60,000 for legal counsel from local law firm Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn and the Indianapolis firm Krieg DeVault, which were chosen by the reorganization committee after it heard bids from several firms in late March.
$38,500 to pay for services provided by public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Horwath.
$10,000 for administrative support for the committee.
Rebecca Kasha, chairwoman of the reorganization committee, said the County Council's action is an important step.
"I'm pleased that they have shown interest and support of the project by appropriating money," Kasha said. "The work will go forward, and we plan on having our finished plan done in January (the statutory one-year deadline)."
Kasha said the law firms and Crowe Horwath will be set up as vendors and will send invoices, so the money will not be in any individual's hands.
The 2006 legislation that creates a framework for local governments to merge allows financial compensation to service providers.
"The reorganizing political subdivisions shall provide necessary office space, supplies and staff to the reorganization committee," it states. "The reorganizing political subdivisions may employ attorneys, accountants, consultants and other professionals for the reorganization committee."
Also on Wednesday, the County Council:
Gave final approval to a tax abatement for Enviroplas, a local engineering resin manufacturer that plans to put in another production line.
Pam Martin, director of Downtown development and government relations for Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, said Enviroplas will make a $940,000 investment in all. Martin said the money will expand the company's building in northern Vanderburgh County and purchase manufacturing equipment for a new production line for reformulated plastic.
Eight jobs will be created immediately, Martin said, with 13 more jobs created in the next five years.
The tax abatement would phase in real estate property taxes over eight years and taxes on the manufacturing equipment over seven years.