Pulaski County residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed tax restructuring during tonight’s county council meeting. If approved, it would lower the overall local income tax rate from 3.38 percent, the highest in the state, down to 2.85 percent, while at the same time increasing property taxes.
More specifically, it would reduce the amount of income tax revenue being used for property tax relief, while increasing the portion earmarked for public safety and economic development. One of the major concerns is that it would also earmark 0.3 percent of the income tax specifically for the county’s 911 center. That’s estimated to bring in more money than the county typically spends on 911, and it couldn’t be reallocated for any other purpose. The tax restructuring is seen as a way to help lower the county’s deficit, while also shifting some of the tax burden from wage earners to landowners.
In other business tonight, council members will consider more than $668,000 in additional appropriations. Most of that would be for preliminary costs for the courthouse renovation and justice center expansion project that the county’s already committed to spending but weren’t in the 2020 budget. Council members will also continue working on the 2021 budget.
Tonight’s Pulaski County Council meeting starts at 7:00 EDT in the Pulaski County Highway Garage, following the council’s joint session with the county commissioners at 6:00.
During the joint session, the county’s health insurance company will provide more details about an anticipated cost increase. County officials are also expected to discuss CARES Act funding and a work from home policy.
Both meetings will be streamed live on the Pulaski County, Indiana, Government Facebook page.
