Dec
27
Schueb Hopes Thousands Show Up For Tax Vote Tomorrow
Filed Under COIT, Fran DuPey, Gerry Scheub, Income Tax, Lake County Commissioners, Lake County Council, taxes | Leave a Comment
Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub says that he hopes thousands of Lake County taxpayers show up to let the Lake County Council know how they feel about a new tax imposition at tomorrow’s 4 p.m. Council meeting.
Before voting to veto the income tax Dec. 19, (Commissioners Gerry) Scheub and (Fran) DuPey said they were embarrassed to be Democrats because the Democratic-controlled County Council had not allowed residents to voice their opinions on the tax proposal.
Scheub threatened to leave the Democratic Party if the council did not allow testimony before Friday’s vote to override the veto.
“I just hope there are a thousand people there Friday,” Scheub said after learning testimony would be allowed.
Dec
21
Scheub Threatens To Quit Democrats Over 1% Tax
Filed Under COIT, Gerry Scheub, Income Tax, Lake County, Lake County Commissioners, Lake County Council, property tax crisis, tax revolt, taxes | Leave a Comment
Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub threatens to quit the Democratic party if taxpayers aren’t allowed to speak before the Lake County Council votes to override the Commissioners’ veto of the 1% income tax legislation, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.
Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub said he is so upset about an aspect of the county income tax voting process he may resign from the Democratic Party.
“I don’t want to be part of this party if the Lake County Council doesn’t permit residents, citizens and taxpayers to speak prior to their vote Dec. 28,” Scheub, D-Schererville, said Thursday.
That pledge could result in the end of the 72-year-old politician’s long career in the Democratic Party, which includes 20 years as a St. John Township trustee and 11 in his current office as a chief executive in county government. …
“It’s as emotional as hell,” Scheub said Thursday.
Votes on the tax come as the county is mailing out 2007 property tax bills that are 13 percent to 23 percent higher than last year, the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance announced Thursday.
Dec
7
More Could Be Filling Up?
Filed Under George Van Til, Gerry Scheub, Income Tax, Lake County, good government, government waste, property tax crisis, tax revolt | Leave a Comment
Lake County surveyor George Van Til admits filling up his personal vehicle with Lake County government gasoline because his take home car was taken away after he let his son use a Lake County truck to drive to school.
George Van Til also blamed political opponents for stirring up the controversy, despite the fact that Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub calls Van Til’s “first transgression” — allowing his teen son to use a county vehicle — an event that makes the latest news “major.”
Lake County income tax supporters are probably lamenting the news that Lake County officials could be fueling their private cars at public expense because it refocuses taxpayers’ mind on how Lake County government entities and municipalities keep increasing spending at levels that exceed inflation, according to an Indiana state Department of Local Government Finance report.
There’s no ordinance against public officials filling up at public expense, according to a Northwest Indiana Times new report.
County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville, said Thursday a county ordinance regulating the use of county vehicles and gasoline doesn’t specifically prohibit county officials from using the pumps, but “that is just common sense.” Scheub said he will ask that the ordinance be amended to include the prohibition.
Writes Bill Dolan in the Northwest Indiana Times:
Van Til said he didn’t need to fuel his private vehicles with county gas until last month when he gave up his take-home car, a Mercury Marquis, leased, fueled and maintained at public expense.
He said he used county gas in his personal vehicles because he didn’t have money in his budget to receive mileage reimbursement.
Van Til said he didn’t consider that to be against the rules because he knows of other county officials and employees who do it.
George Van Til’s fill ups probably wouldn’t be a major deal in the grand scheme of things, since mileage reimbursement would probably cost just as much as the gas pumped from the Lake County pumps.
But, during these days of ever increasing property tax increases, tax sales, foreclosures, personal financial pain, and talk of a brand new Lake County income tax, it does raise questions in overburdened taxpayers’ minds whether the current government leaders are committed to cutting back government spending.
More troubling is the assertion that there might be other officials filling up at taxpayers’ expense — are they also getting mileage reimbursement? Lake County’s leaders need to make sure that isn’t happening.
There is some good news — Lake County’s surveyor is requesting money to join the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission.
