Federal agents examining Lake County surveyor's payroll records

CROWN POINT | Nearly 10 years worth of payroll records of the Lake County surveyor's office were subpoenaed recently by federal agents, officials said.

EDITORIAL: House shifts blame, doesn't solve problem

One of the selling points, though not the only one, for enacting a local income tax in Lake County is to thaw the property tax levy that has been frozen by the state Legislature since 2007. Wednesday's action in the Indiana House of Representatives muddied the waters but didn't build a bridg…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Try these measures before adopting income tax

Over the last several months, there has been a lot of discussion on a Lake County local option income tax. During this time, our constituents, our bosses, have overwhelmingly said we do not want a tax. Some of the reasons they have are:

EDITORIAL: Northwest Indiana needs Senate Bill 585

Senate Bill 585 has many valuable provisions for Lake County and Northwest Indiana. It must become law.

RICH JAMES: Raykovich has baggage, so send him packing

One of the guys at the heart of the East Chicago sidewalks-for-votes scandal wants to get into Lake County government.

EDITORIAL: Proposed Lake County wheel tax is one tax too many

For the past few years, Lake County government leaders have favored the irresponsible practice of borrowing to make budget, running up taxpayer debt rather than facing the painful but necessary political music of adopting a local option income tax. We support such an income tax and have repe…

EDITORIAL: Lake County's finances could look like Illinois'

Take note, Lake County, of the government financial fiasco boiling over in neighboring Illinois. If Lake County government officials don't wake up and pursue more sound economic policies and strategies, Lake County could be a microcosm of Illinois' bigger financial problems.

Study concludes Lake County government is a bargain

CROWN POINT | Lake residents now enjoy one of the most frugal county governments in the state, according to a new study released Monday by the Board of Lake County Commissioners.

EDITORIAL: Green with envy over Porter County's gold

Lake County officials are talking about borrowing money from Porter County to make ends meet in its 2013 budget. Loose lips sink ships, and loose budgets sink taxpayers.

WILLIAM NANGLE: Lake County Council must be willing to adopt income tax

This column will not help my popularity.

EDITORIAL: Come to grips with Lake County's finances

Lake County government entities are seeing their budgets under increasing scrutiny amid pressure to stay under the frozen tax levy. These entities are even starting to compete with each other for property tax dollars.

EDITORIAL: Philpot provides incentive for ethics training

Yet another politician has been removed from office because of public corruption. Former Lake County Clerk Thomas Philpot was convicted on five counts of theft and fraud charges.

August is high-anxiety month for Lake County government

CROWN POINT | The Lake County Government Center could be an uneasy workplace for those employees traveling to U.S. District Court in Hammond in the coming days to give evidence about their fellow employees in open court or in the grand jury room.

Shoring up the banks

EDITORIAL: Lake officials make case for HR director

The Lake County commissioners flubbed in appointing a politically connected person to be a special assistant, and Lake County Council member Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, called them on it last week.

County reaps $10.9M in tax sale

CROWN POINT | Lake County government harvested $10.9 million Wednesday from its annual treasurer's tax sale.

EDITORIAL: Lake County fiscal leaders should embrace budget review process as means to future reform

Lake County government's fiscal leaders are in a grand experiment right now that has the potential to streamline wasteful local government budget practices. But like many experiments, it also could blow up in their faces if the parameters aren't measured and carried out carefully.

EDITORIAL: A tax by another name is still a tax

Mad money. It's the leftover cash that many Lake County taxpayers once had in more prosperous times. It's a rare concept now as an ailing economy continues to plod along with many region residents just feeling lucky to have jobs. But the concept of mad money is still alive and well in Lake C…

Rising tide of supplemental pay doesn't raise all boats

CROWN POINT | About $1 million of the rising toll of Lake County government user fees is being diverted by officials to the pay of a charmed circle of their employees.