Dec
28
Bilski Might Vote No On Lake Income Tax
Filed Under COIT, Income Tax, Lake County Council, Ted Bilski, Will Smith Jr, property tax crisis, taxes | 3 Comments
The Northwest Indiana Times reports that Lake County Councilman Ted Bilski might vote “NO” on the new Lake County income tax because it doesn’t fairly distribute tax revenues because the money taken from taxpayers’ paychecks doesn’t necessarily stay in their communities.
Writes Bill Dolan for the Times:
County Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said Thursday he is prepared to vote against the 1 percent personal income tax he supported only last week because its redistribution as property tax relief would be unfair under the current proposal.
“I’ve been waiting a month for this hybrid option, but we don’t have it yet,” Bilski said.
Four council members who support the tax are counting on Bilski’s vote today to overcome a veto on the tax by the Lake County Board of Commissioners.
Bilski said he has been soul searching since his vote for the tax. “I did not feel comfortable after that night. I’ve been meeting with our mayors and talking to everyone.
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
23
Merry Christmas Porter Co! Lake Co.’s New Tax Will Cost You $1 Million
Filed Under COIT, Income Tax, Lake County, Lake County Council, Porter County, Will Smith Jr, corruption, politics, property tax crisis, tax revolt, taxes | Leave a Comment
Lake County’s soon-to-be approved 1% income tax — masterminded by convicted tax felon Will Smith, Jr. who was called an “asset” for getting the Lake County Council to support the imposition of a new tax burden behind closed doors away from public comment — will cost Porter County $1 million, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.
Merry Christmas, Porter County, from the Lake County Council!
Meanwhile, Will Smith, Jr. prepares to go away to the slammer for his own tax woes when he is sentenced by a federal judge in January.
Too bad he won’t be able to get work-release so he can continue to “serve” on the Lake County Council — the law probably isn’t crystal clear on that issue.
Reports Bill Dolan in the Northwest Indiana Times:
Lake County Councilman Will Smith, D-Gary, underwent a humiliating public trial and was found guilty three months ago of filing a false federal income tax form.
Critics say those circumstances — and the Lake County Council’s refusal of public input before adopting the measure — cast a pall over the county income tax that appears poised to become reality.
Smith and like-minded council members met outside public view to maneuver a fractious council — within a brief window of opportunity — into a series of votes that seem likely to conclude Friday with enactment of a 1 percent county income tax.
At that time, the Lake County Council is expected to override a veto of the tax cast by Lake County commissioners last week.
Sources within county government claim council members who supported the tax timed the only public discussion to take place late enough in the year so the move would not influence the election of big city mayors supporting the tax. The timing also satisfies a Dec. 31 deadline to avoid a state-mandated freeze of property tax increases.
