CROWN POINT | 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.
He is up for re-election in 2008 and said Thursday he won't run for another term in office as either a Republican or an incumbent if the council refuses public input.
The Lake County Council passed a 1-percent income tax on county residents, workers and some business investors in two votes Nov. 26 and Tuesday at meetings in which crowds of tax opponents were not allowed to comment.
Commissioners permitted audience members to speak Wednesday before voting 2-1 to veto the tax.
The council is expected to override that veto next week.
"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.
Local government has been criticized for uncontrolled government spending and duplication of services.
The state's other 91 counties have passed income taxes, and the state Legislature mandated that the Lake County Council pass an income tax and direct the $78 million in revenue to reduce property taxes. Refusal by the county would result in the state freezing local government property-tax revenues.
The passage of an income tax appeared unlikely until Tuesday when Lake County Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, dropped his opposition and joined four other council colleagues in approving the tax. That five-vote majority will be needed to override the commissioners' veto and make the tax a reality beginning in 2008.
Scheub said he spoke Thursday with Bilski, attempting to persuade the councilman to change his mind.
"I spoke with Gerry, but I'm still behind it," Bilski said. "I stayed after Tuesday's meeting to talk to anyone who wanted to discuss the matter."
