County Option Income Tax approved for Gibson County

State law requires a local option income tax get support from local government entities representing at least 51 percent of the county population.

The resolutions of support from the Gibson County Council, Haubstadt and Fort Town Councils meet the requirements, according Gibson County Council President Jeremy Overton, who discussed the tax in a public hearing last month.

The proposed rate starts at .2 percent for Gibson County residents and at 25 percent of that .2 percent resident rate for those who work in Gibson County and live elsewhere.

Fort Branch Council President Tom Wallace said the purpose of the tax is to make up for property tax revenue lost. “I don’t like additional taxes like anybody else,” he said. But Wallace said that serving six years on the council has shown him the town needs more revenue and the tax.

Council member Harold Wolf agreed with Wallace. He said what makes the decision easier is knowing they’ll get a portion of the tax from Gibson County workers who live out of state.

“In my opinion it’s a necessary evil,” he said.

Wolf said if the Fort Branch Town Council didn’t approve the resolution, it would be up to another local town board.