By Bill Dolan, Times of Northwest Indiana
bill.dolan@nwi.com
CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members spoke with pride Wednesday of having cut a total of $15 million from this year's county government spending without having to pass a local income tax.
They spoke with concern about having to cut another $1.6 million from the budget before year's end because of diminished tax collections.
Council President Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said no decisions will be made now, but one suggestion included furlough days for nonessential workers -- in essence a pay cut.
"We are experiencing the same thing the private sector is experiencing," Blanchard said.
County government's austerity is being forced on it by property tax caps that reduce the amount of property taxes local government can collect to pay for services. The council convinced other county elected officials last year to reduce their payrolls by 112 positions.
"We reduced property taxes and didn't need an income tax," Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said.
State officials have been pushing Lake County to adopt a 1 percent income tax on county residents and workers, but the council and Board of Commissioners refused.
Dante Rondelli, the council's finance director, said the down economy is forcing further cuts.
"Excise taxes are down, because people aren't buying as many cars," he said.
That forced the council Wednesday to reduce spending plans for July through December by $2 million, but the savings didn't require service cuts because they already have saved through their continuing hiring freeze and a general reluctance to spend up to their budget limits.
Nevertheless, more sacrifices are in the works.
Bilski said the additional $1.6 million in write-downs have to be carefully planned.
"We can't cut across the board because some departments are so small they are un-cuttable," he said.