Opinion
Good deal
State Sen. Brandt Hershman was a little ticked off after learning last June that Chrysler Group LLC, the new company formed with Fiat, wouldn’t pay $6 million that spring in personal property taxes.
“This is not only a firm refusing to pay taxes that will provide it with police and fire protection, but it’s also putting the burden on the back of a community already struggling,” the Wheatfield Republican said.
Conversely, Howard County officials took the news relatively well. They anticipated it.
At the request of state Rep. Ron Herrell, D-Kokomo, the Indiana House, which was still in session for state budget negotiations, passed an amendment to its budget bill that freed up the state’s Rainy Day Fund and made loans available to Howard County taxing units. The Senate quickly followed suit.
And all the while, county officials were in negotiations with Chrysler about the personal property taxes. Nine months after initiating talks with the automaker, the county announced late last month that old and new Chrysler would pay 100 percent of their personal and real property taxes.
Everyone in the Kokomo area owes a thank-you to the Howard County officials involved in the negotiations. They deserve praise for securing state loans for our taxing units, and brokering a mutually beneficial deal with Chrysler.
- Opinion
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Cheers and Jeers - Saturday, July 31, 2010
Lost retainers help local charities
Carrie Giannakos sends this Cheer to Jarrell Orthodontics’ clients:
“Cheers to Jarrell Orthodontics and their patients for making the Retainers for Charity Program such a success.
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You say tomato
Looking out across his 1-acre garden, Shawn Clements saw green beans, tomatoes, squash and a dozen other vegetables. What he didn’t see was politics, and we didn’t see it either.
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Indiana wrong for reducing benefits
For a decade, hundreds, if not thousands, of developmentally disabled Hoosiers had their state grocery benefit unfairly reduced because they also received food stamps.
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Let’s be careful at RR crossings
A deadly accident east of Gary last week provided a stark reminder of a lesson we should all have learned in drivers education: Never drive around the gates at a railroad crossing.
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Give a little bit
Economist Morton Marcus dropped by our offices a few weeks ago. He didn’t have an appointment, but we made time to chat with one of our favorite contributing columnists.
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Cheers and Jeers - Saturday, July 24, 2010
New look downtown draws praise
Ron Harper of the Howard County Community Foundation sends this Cheer:
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Get involved with ‘Reads’
Perhaps you recently returned from vacation and caught up on some summer reading. You discovered a real page-turner you’d like to share with others.
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Send clear message
It’s the perfect movie. A barely schooled, shoeless teenager dodges police as he races across the country stealing cars and airplanes before finally being caught in a high-speed boat chase.
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Another wave still is possible
State health officials said in May flu season was over – for now. Since a worldwide outbreak of H1N1 flu last fall, 39 Hoosiers have died, and a fifth of state residents has been vaccinated against the strain of “swine flu,” officials said.
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Transfer policies should be clear
Indiana’s colleges and universities need to get their acts together when it comes to transferring credits from Ivy Tech Community College.
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Cheers and Jeers - Saturday, July 31, 2010
