The Pulaski County Council will vote on adjustments to the county’s tax structure tonight. Under the proposed ordinance, wage earners who live in Pulaski County would pay a slightly lower local income tax rate starting January 1. But those owning non-homestead property there would see their property taxes go up.
The changes are estimated to bring in more than $900,000 in new revenue for the county and over $400,000 to be split among the county’s towns, libraries, and townships.
Council members will take input from the public tonight before making a final decision. Consultant Jeffrey Peters is also expected to be there, and some council members have apparently invited another individual for a second opinion. During last week’s meeting, Council Member Mike Tiede explained, “This guy that does the excise tax program for us, the county, he came up and talked to [Council Member] Rudy [DeSabatine] and myself and [Auditor] Laura [Wheeler]. And he really seems to be a numbers guy.”
Tiede said this other person has some different ideas about how to adjust the county’s tax structure. “There’s some stuff, if you change that income tax, you can’t never go back,” Tiede pointed out. “I don’t know, it kind of seems like we’ve been misled on that a little bit.”
Council President Jay Sullivan added that he wants to get any discrepancies resolved, so the council can make an intelligent decision. Tonight’s special Pulaski County Council meeting starts at 7:00 EDT at the Pulaski County Highway Garage.
