Hammond councilman plans to bring back resolution opposing income tax

HAMMOND | Hammond City Councilman Bob Markovich will attempt to revive his resolution opposing a county income tax after it died at Monday's City Council meeting because of a lack of support.

Pence orders cuts in Calumet Township spending

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith leaders were ecstatic Friday after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed into law mandatory reductions in Calumet Township spending and a path for Griffith to exit the township if its excessive spending continues.

Eliminate wasteful spending instead of new tax

Lake County Council members David Hamm, Ted Bilski, Jerome Prince and Elsie Franklin have voted to institute a county income tax. Thomas McDermott is pulling their strings to approve it.

Eight NWI lawmakers to decide on thaw of Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | Eight state lawmakers from Lake and Porter counties, along with two senators from outside the region, have been tapped to decide whether the General Assembly lifts the Lake County property tax levy freeze.

Senator faces decision on lifting Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | The decision on whether the Lake County property tax levy freeze is lifted, even if the county doesn't enact an income tax, is now in the hands of state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso.

House votes to unfreeze Lake property tax revenues

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House has agreed to remove a state-imposed limit on the amount of property tax revenue local governments in Lake County can collect, regardless of whether the county enacts an income tax.

GUEST COMMENTARY: County option income tax is unconstitutional

Indiana state legislators enacted a law giving all 92 counties the opportunity to pass a county option income tax. In 91 counties, the county council and commissioners voluntarily chose to enact such a tax. Only in Lake County did the county commissioners veto the tax. I voted to defeat the …

I oppose a local option income tax for Lake County

Proponents of a Lake County income tax have always used as their argument that Lake County is the only county without an income tax.

Council may get to control funds from Lake County income tax

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate committee approved legislation Tuesday that may make it more palatable for the Lake County Council to enact an income tax, and thaw the state-imposed property tax levy freeze that has forced many Lake County cities and towns to make painful budget cuts.

Indiana House backs Porter County commissioners in tax dispute

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House approved legislation Monday intended to end a dispute between the Porter County Council and the county commissioners over who has the authority to spend local income tax revenue.

Don't create a new tax to coddle public employees

Biting the bullet isn't easy is it? Mark Kiesling said public officials are "mandated to protect the public," but they are not mandated to continually give raises to the police, the firefighters, the teachers, and to vote themselves a raise.

New Indiana revenue commissioner was head of failed bank

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels has selected the former CEO of a failed Evansville bank to lead the state's beleaguered Department of Revenue.

Indiana shorts counties $206M; revenue commissioner resigns

INDIANAPOLIS | State Budget Director Adam Horst blamed a Department of Revenue programming error Thursday for Indiana's failure to distribute $206 million in county income tax revenue since January 2011, including $3.7 million to Porter County.

Counties' income tax rates unchanged from 2010

INDIANAPOLIS | County income tax rates, including Lake County's status as the only Indiana county without an income tax, appear likely to remain unchanged from 2010 rates.