Lake spending remains on hold while impact of income tax is measured

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members remained cautious about future spending requests Tuesday despite last week's passage of the local option income tax that promises tens of million of dollars in new revenues.

Lake County Council passes income tax

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Council passed a county income tax Monday.

Lake commissioners to hold tax veto meeting May 10

CROWN POINT | Lake County commissioners will be in a position to veto a local income tax next week if the County Council approves one.

Pence backs study of county government reforms

INDIANAPOLIS | State lawmakers are expected to study the structure of Indiana county government this summer with an eye toward establishing a single county executive.

Hebron fire chief hopes for new station by Christmas

HEBRON | Santa couldn't deliver a new fire station for Hebron last Christmas, but, with a big boost from the Porter County commissioners, he might be able to squeeze one in his sack for next Christmas.

Action on Porter County jail medical service contract delayed

VALPARAISO | Porter County Sheriff Dave Lain hopes to have a recommendation at the next county commissioners meeting for providing round-the-clock medical service for inmates, but commission President John Evans warned that Lain also better include a recommendation on how to pay for it.

Hamm to replace Repay on Lake County Council

HAMMOND | Longtime Hammond firefighter and former City Council member David Hamm was chosen Saturday morning to replace Mike Repay as the Lake County Council's 1st District representative.

PHIL WIELAND: Putting the X into Christmas carols

Christmas carols can help your holiday mood, unless your office Muzak station just played "Feliz Navidad" for the 912th time in the past two hours. In that case, I understand if you are looking forward to reindeer steaks on Christmas Day.

Lake County Council passes $107.5 million budget

CROWN POINT | Three months of budget talks ended Tuesday when the Lake County Council passed a balanced $107.5 million budget but kept the gate open for borrowing up to $15 million to continue operating.

Lake County Council balances budget

CROWN POINT | The majority of the Lake County Council held firm Thursday in balancing the county's budget in time for final budget adoption next week.

County Council president defends independent review of Valpo school budget

VALPARAISO | Porter County Council President Dan Whitten is questioning the motives behind a proposal to strip his board of the newly charged task of reviewing and signing off on the budget for the Valparaiso Community School Corp.

Porter County finances in pink of good health thanks to hospital sale reserve

VALPARAISO | County Council members were told Tuesday that the county is in a strong financial position, but sustaining optimal cash reserves might entail some $2.8 million in cuts or additional revenue.

Lake County officials being lined up for Philpot trial

CROWN POINT | Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot may have to confront fellow county government officials and former employees in his upcoming fraud trial.

Valpo ethics panel to discuss alleged violation

VALPARAISO | The city's Ethics Commission is expected to discuss a complaint filed against the Valparaiso Community Schools board by former School Board member Brigid McLinn.

EDITORIAL: Paying consultants to fill budget shortfalls perpetuates county's wasteful ways

Lake County commissioners would have us believe they are "working" on a solution to a potential $15 million budget shortfall in county government's 2012 and 2013 budgets. But they're really not working on anything at all. In typical wasteful form, they're paying someone else to work on the issue.

Porter County aims to give redevelopment commission more power

VALPARAISO | Porter County commissioners began the process Tuesday of transforming the county Redevelopment Commission from its advisory role into a board capable of initiating the creation of tax increment financing districts.

Bus agencies plead for Lake County Council to get aboard

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members are juggling rival pleas for new local tax subsidies from two public transportation agencies.

Dispatching red ink spurs talks on 911 in Porter County

Porter County municipal officials, state legislators and commissioners met Tuesday night to begin discussions of how cover a $2.1 million annual shortfall for Enhanced 911 that is expected to hit by the middle of next year.