The Pulaski County Courthouse will be discussed during tonight’s joint county council and commissioners meeting. Architects have presented a few different options for renovating this historic courthouse and possibly adding onto the Justice Center, ranging from almost $4.9 to almost $8.6 million. County officials have also been presented with various proposals for issuing bonds to pay for the work.
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Pulaski County is gearing up for solar farm development, but exactly what that might look like still remains to be seen. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer didn’t have any firm answers about the size of a potential solar farm during Monday’s advisory plan commission meeting.
Continue readingPulaski County officials continue exploring their options, when it comes to paying for a potential courthouse renovation. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told the county commissioners Monday that financial consultant Jeffrey Peters has put together a few funding scenarios.
Continue readingAfter the Pulaski County Council narrowly rejected a tax restructuring plan Monday, Council President Jay Sullivan hopes to get to work on a new proposal relatively soon. He told the rest of the Community Development Commission Tuesday that he doesn’t expect the council to wait an entire year before taking action.
Continue readingPulaski County’s state representative wants to get moving on securing financing for a possible courthouse renovation project. Three renovation options, ranging from just under $4.9 million up to almost $8.6 million were recently presented to the county council and commissioners.
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A proposed tax adjustment was narrowly voted down by the Pulaski County Council Monday. The change would have resulted in a slight decrease in the county’s local income tax rate, while allowing property taxes to increase on non-homestead property.
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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.
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Tax adjustments are still on the table in Pulaski County. The county council voted five-to-two Monday to pursue an option that would reduce the local income tax rate by 0.08 percent for 2020, while increasing property taxes on non-homestead property.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council will continue working on the county’s 2020 budget tonight. Council members have begun suggesting significant cuts, but more specifics still need to be worked out before the budget is ready for adoption on October 14.
Continue readingAs Pulaski County officials discuss ways to lessen the county’s reliance on local income taxes, the gap with surrounding counties’ tax rates remains high. Pulaski County residents currently pay 3.38 percent in local income taxes, the most in the state.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council wants a few more days to consider what direction to take on potential tax adjustments. The county currently has the highest income tax rate in the state, but one of the lowest property tax rates. Council members have been looking at ways to balance those, while also preparing for the end of the special income tax that was put in place to pay for the Justice Center but also covers a large portion of jail operations.
Continue readingWith time running out, the Pulaski County Council is still struggling to agree on a clear direction, when it comes to adjusting the county’s income taxes. Consultant Jeffrey Peters has suggested lowering the portion of income taxes designed to offset property taxes, but raising other types of income taxes to help with operations.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council and Commissioners are each asking the other group for direction on courthouse security. Last week, the commissioners indicated that they’re ready to act on the issue. But during Monday’s county council meetings, Council Member Kathi Thompson pointed out that it hasn’t been factored into the 2020 budget proposal.
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As Pulaski County looks for a way to get its finances back on track, officials’ next step may be to look back at 2016 spending. Consultant Jeffrey Peters told the county council Monday that was the last time revenue exceeded expenditures. “In 2016, you brought in a little above $10 million, you spent about $10 million,” he explained. “This year, we anticipate your revenue stream would be about $10 million.”
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council is hoping to cut budgets, adjust the salary matrix, and start reconfiguring the county’s tax structure, all within the next month or so. Council members will continue discussing potential budget cuts with department heads tonight and next Monday at 7:00 p.m. EDT in the Pulaski County Highway Garage. During last week’s special session, Council Member Kathi Thompson said there are still several departments they need to see.
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Pulaski County officials may soon be asking state lawmakers to help balance out the county’s tax structure. The county currently has one of the highest income tax rates in the state but relatively low property taxes. But fiscal planning consultant Jeffrey Peters told the county council and commissioners Monday that simply replacing income taxes with property taxes isn’t always possible.
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Pulaski County could see annual funding shortfalls of $2.7 million within the next few years, if it remains on its current financial path. Consultant Jeffrey Peters presented the first part of a fiscal plan to the county council and commissioners Monday.
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Winamac’s pool project was officially put to rest by the town’s park board Thursday. Members voted to stop pursuing the pool project and focus on a splash pad instead. Board member and town manager Brad Zellers abstained from the vote. This follows similar action by the town council last month.
Continue readingPulaski County’s fiscal planning process is taking a bit longer than expected. Back in October, fiscal planning consultant Jeffrey Peters said he planned to have the plan done by mid-December. But during last week’s county council meeting, county officials said they still hadn’t gotten any results.
Continue readingPulaski County’s tax structure is not sustainable. That’s what fiscal planning consultant Jeffrey Peters told the county council during a public hearing Monday. “You’re on a track that you can’t continue on,” he said, “and those income taxes are going to have to be shifted around in some fashion, in order to get you back to an equilibrium to provide services under a revenue model that does not eat up all your cash over time.”
