Pooling E-911 services likely to soak taxpayers

CROWN POINT | A consolidated E-911 system won't be a toll free call for Lake County taxpayers.

Calumet Township data reveals it as big spender among townships

GARY | The multimillion-dollar budget for the Calumet Township trustee has been a fat target for critics from Griffith Town Hall to the statehouse in Indianapolis.

Lake County Council prepares to apply for $15.5 million loan

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members said they are prepared to take a final vote Tuesday on borrowing $15.5 million next year to meet anticipated spending on the county jail, its roads and drainage waterways, and other services.

Lake County officials say they are credit worthy

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials want to assure the public that county government can handle its debt — even though it already owes creditors more than $100 million and is about to borrow more.

Auditor announces deadlines for homestead applications

CROWN POINT | Lake County Auditor Peggy Katona said new homeowners who haven't yet filed for their homestead credits don't need to panic about getting their paperwork into her office this week.

Council gives a friendly review of other Lake government spending plans

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Council made its review of about 60 government budgets for 2012 relatively quick and easy.

Tough review ahead for local government finances

CROWN POINT | Lake County's budget expert cautions local cities, towns, townships and other local government units to get serious about cutting spending -- or have austerity forced on them.

Lake Central referendum is on after school officials get a rap on the knuckles

CROWN POINT | Lake Central School Corp. officials received a tongue-lashing Tuesday along with approval for the new wording of a $160 million construction referendum.

Lake County tax bills expected by June

CROWN POINT | Lake County Assessor Hank Adams said this week his goal is to have this year's tax bills ready by June.

EDITORIAL: Legislators, look at Blumenberg example

Nothing says as much about Indiana's crazy property tax assessment process as former Calumet Township Assessor appealing the assessment on his own home -- when the work was done by his own employees.

State puts Porter County's taxes back on track

INDIANAPOLIS | The state has managed to get Porter County back on track for a second year in a row of on-time tax bills.

County: Hundreds of commercial projects were not assessed

VALPARAISO | Newly elected Republican Porter County Assessor Jon Snyder said he made the surprising discovery recently of nearly 300 permits involving commercial building projects that have never been assessed and added to the tax rolls.

EDITORIAL: Assessing the assessing process

Lake and Porter counties have new assessors facing the same old challenges. They must be up to the difficult task of getting each county's finances back on track.

Lake, Porter slow to report on reassessment work

VALPARAISO | Lake and Porter counties are ahead of schedule in inspecting each property as part of the current general reassessment work that takes place every five years.

New Lake County tax appeals and deductions deadlines approach

CROWN POINT | Lake County property owners formed lines this week to file paperwork for new tax appeals and exemptions before upcoming deadlines.

State hopes to get Porter County taxes back on track

VALPARAISO | While Porter County is about a month late in preparing next year's tax bills, the state believes it can make up the time necessary to allow for a second year of on-time billing in 2011.

Assessor objects to state's access to county computers

VALPARAISO | Porter County Assessor John Scott's objections to the state lowering the assessed value of the ArcelorMittal plant in Burns Harbor was reignited this week when he learned state officials were gaining access to the county's computer system.