The renovation of the Pulaski County Courthouse has taken another step forward. The county commissioners Tuesday agreed to hire Barnes & Thornburg as bond counsel and Baker Tilly as municipal advisor for the project.
Continue readingPulaski County officials are planning their next steps, when it comes to the renovation of the courthouse and expansion of the Justice Center. During a joint session with the county council Monday, the commissioners agreed to ask Rowland Design for a quote for final design work, since the company already did the preliminary plans.
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The Pulaski County Council still hasn’t made any decisions about reconfiguring its local income taxes, but members did agree last week to keep thinking about some options. President Jay Sullivan reminded the rest of the council that the county will have to come up with additional revenue, since a special local income tax is scheduled to expire at the end of 2020.
Continue readingThe 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.
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 is getting a clearer picture of the financial impact of a potential courthouse renovation project. Financial consultant Jeffrey Peters presented some revised estimates Monday, based on the most recent renovation plans presented by Rowland Design.
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The Pulaski County Council got a closer look at recent spending increases Monday. Consultant Jeffrey Peters pointed out that while the county government’s annual income has remained just above $10 million over the past six years, spending went from just over $10 million in 2016 to almost $12.5 million in 2018.
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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 meeting one more time with its fiscal planning consultant before officially getting to work on the 2020 budget today. Consultant Jeffrey Peters is scheduled to give council members an update on his findings this morning at 8:00 EDT in the Pulaski County Highway Garage.
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.
Continue readingPulaski County’s preliminary fiscal plan is now officially public record. The county council voted unanimously last week to authorize Auditor Laura Wheeler to release the plan to members of the public, if requested.
Continue readingPulaski County sheriff’s deputies have been busy recently, and that’s led to a significant shortfall in the department’s overtime budget. The county council voted Monday to transfer a total of $27,000 out of the deputy salary and part-time dispatcher salary line items, to fill the gap.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Public Library may be moving ahead with a bond issuance. Library Attorney Justin Schramm is expected to discuss it with the county council tonight. Officials have been working on plans for lead dust and asbestos remediation in nonpublic areas of the Winamac library.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council has agreed to spend up to another $10,000 to continue its fiscal planning process. Member Ken Boswell told the rest of the council Monday that the county has reached the limit of its initial agreement with Peters Municipal Consultants.
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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.
Continue readingPulaski County officials will continue discussing ways to stabilize the county’s finances tonight. Tax revenues aren’t keeping up with expenditures in many of the county’s funds, according to fiscal planning consultant Jeffrey Peters.
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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.
Continue readingPulaski 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.
Continue readingPulaski County’s long-awaited fiscal plan is set to be unveiled next month, but in the meantime, several departments’ requests for additional help will remain on hold. Three department heads were scheduled to ask the county council for staffing increases Monday, but at the start of the meeting, Council Member Kathi Thompson said that fiscal planning consultant Jeffrey Peters has asked council members to hold off.
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