Pulaski County officials will get their first look at the county’s new fiscal plan tonight. Last year, the county hired consultant Jeffrey Peters to look at the county’s finances and recommend adjustments to its tax structure, to make it more sustainable going forward.
One of the biggest issues is that local income taxes haven’t been able to make up for revenues lost to the freeze in the property tax levy. That, in turn, led to a sudden drop in tax revenues for local communities a couple years ago. Peters will discuss his findings and recommendations with the county council and commissioners tonight.
Also during tonight’s joint session, Eric Weflen with architectural firm RQAW will present a proposal for a study of the Pulaski County Courthouse. Last year, a proposal was made to demolish the courthouse and replace it with an addition to the Justice Center. Since then, Indiana Landmarks has been working on its own reuse study of the building, and a three-year-old plan to renovate and expand the courthouse may also be revisited.
Tonight’s joint Pulaski County Council and Commissioners meeting starts at 6:00 EDT at the Pulaski County Courthouse, followed by the council’s regular meeting at 7:00. Funding for lead dust and asbestos remediation at the Pulaski County Public Library will be up for consideration. Library officials are asking for the council’s permission to spend $25,000 out of the library’s Rainy Day Fund, to help pay for the work.
Council members will also consider chipping in $7,000 toward the cost of a new van for Pulaski County Human Services, as well as the EMS department’s request to bring back the assistant EMS director position. A number of budget transfers and additional appropriations will be up for approval, as well.
