Pulaski County Officials to Open Insurance Bids, Present Levy Freeze Ordinance Tonight

The Pulaski County Council and Commissioners will open health insurance bids tonight. The bid opening will take place during their joint session, scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. EDT at the Pulaski County Highway Garage.

During the council’s regular session at 7:00, an ordinance to eliminate the county’s property tax levy freeze is expected to be presented for first reading. The county currently has some of the highest income taxes in the state but relatively low property taxes. Officials are hoping to balance the county’s tax structure and make it more sustainable going forward. The income tax that’s designed specifically for property tax relief hasn’t been able to bring in as much revenue as the property tax it’s replacing, which has had an impact on the county’s budget, as well as those of other local government units.

In other business tonight, several requested additional appropriations will be up for final approval, including funding for Superior Court pauper counsel and the sheriff’s deputies’ new pension plan. Council members are also scheduled to get an update from Sheriff Jeff Richwine and consider the reappointment of Pat Bawcum to the Pulaski County Public Library Board.