Blessing in disguise
When local elected officials learned Chrysler LLC would not pay $12.2 million in personal property taxes this year, some hoped for a state loan.
County government would take a $1 million hit in the revenue stream, funds that would otherwise have to be trimmed from current budgets.
State lawmakers quickly approved an amendment to allow Howard County taxing entities to borrow the equivalent of the unpaid taxes from the state’s Rainy Day fund.
But local taxpayers had better hope local government somehow avoids having to pay back any state loans. The most likely means of repayment would be through higher property taxes. Local taxing units would be allowed to exceed state property tax caps to pay the money back.
Name that holiday
While many American workers were given Friday off to celebrate the July Fourth holiday, some local residents may have noticed Howard County offices were closed on Thursday as well.
County employees were off on Thursday to celebrate Haynes Day. They were also given the day after New Year’s off as a paid holiday as Apperson Day. Each day off cost county taxpayers approximately $35,000 in salaries.
The Haynes Day off used to take place when the Haynes-Apperson Festival was celebrated on the July Fourth weekend to allow vendors to set up around the courthouse.
This year, the annual festival took place the last weekend in June. County offices were open the first two days of the festival but with limited parking around the Courthouse Square.
No welcome mat
There are four challengers attempting to wrestle the Republican Party nomination for the 5th Congressional District seat away from incumbent Dan Burton.
Brose McVey, Luke Messer, John McGoff and Mike Murphy have all announced their candidacies for the 2010 primary.
Craig Dunn, chairman of the Howard County Republican Party, has made it clear the county organization backs Burton.
Asked if the four challengers would receive any local assistance during the campaign, like the use of party headquarters, Dunn was quick to reply “No.”
“I told the precinct committeemen that the most important thing in 2010 is to gain control of the Indiana House,” Dunn said. “We need our money to beat Ron Herrell.”
He noted that the new district lines will be drawn following the 2010 election and the party in power will make the final decision.
“They are on their own,” Dunn said of the challengers. “I think they are two years too soon. There were three other potential strong candidates that put party ahead of personal interests.”
Dunn said a primary fight for the 5th District nomination would waste $1.5 to $2 million.
Stopping the gravy train
When the state of Indiana took over school general fund levies, the camel’s nose went well and truly under the tent.
Now that the state is paying all teacher salaries and benefits, how long would it be, we wondered, until state legislators attempted to circumvent the usual bargaining process between school boards and each district’s teacher bargaining unit?
Republicans this year offered a plan to create a single insurance plan, which would have pooled every teacher in the state. State Rep. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, said it was believed a state pool could offer a “very good plan” for about $15,000 per teacher.
Under the proposal — which was axed in conference committee — teachers wishing to retain their old plans would have been responsible for any premiums exceeding the $15,000 cap, Buck said.
Some current teacher plans, Buck explained, have little communication with the real world. He said some districts are paying up to $29,000 per teacher, per year, in health benefits, with the teachers often contributing only 1 percent of the premium.
Local News
Public Eye - Sunday, July 5, 2009
- Local News
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Students kick off Black History Month at IU Kokomo
“Hey, black child, be what you can be. Learn what you can learn. Do what you can do. And tomorrow, your nation will be what you want it to be.”
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Council taking heat for proposal
The Miami County Council on Thursday got to hear from county employees who are disgruntled about proposed budget cuts that would reduce the county general fund by nearly $900,000.
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County looks at health care options
With the city of Kokomo ending its relationship with Novia Health Care, Howard County officials are now discussing what move they will make.
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KHS to implement new technology program
Starting next school year, the more than 500 freshmen enrolled at Kokomo High School will receive either a laptop computer or tablet device as part of a new technology program that school officials say will improve learning in the classroom.
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Measles patient was at NFL event
East Coast fans who left the Super Bowl host city feeling good about Hoosier hospitality may have been exposed to something less welcome: The measles.
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Outreach provides housing to the down-and-out
Dale Bliss tells the story of a man with no money, no job and two kids.
Without any way to pay for a hotel or rent an apartment, the man was living in a tent with his children at a reservoir near Kokomo. He told them it was a family camping trip.
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Green tech lab opens in Kokomo
A California green technology company has opened a research and development lab in Kokomo and plans to hire as many as 35 people over the next few years, the business announced this week.
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Main Street conference coming to Kokomo
Following up on its Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Community of the Year award, Kokomo received another accolade this week.
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Howard Co. jail reconfiguration a ‘short-term solution’
With the ever-increasing number of female prisoners at the Howard County jail, local officials are looking to implement a short-term solution instead of expanding the existing facility.
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Delphi retirees continue fight for pensions
A group of then-Delphi Corp. retirees saw a long road ahead of them when they banded in 2009 to keep hold of their full pensions and benefits.
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Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
