Legislature meets into the night to complete its work

INDIANAPOLIS | Following four months of proposing, reviewing, bargaining, deal-making and voting, state lawmakers settled on final versions of legislation Friday for most of the remaining issues of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Accountability must apply to TQM funds, too

The Porter County Council did not shut down county Auditor Bob Wichlinski’s total quality management program as reported. A majority of councilmen are asking for accountability from the auditor for future expenditures. The minutes of the March 11 meeting reflect the same.

House panel OKs plan to strip funds from Porter Co. auditor

INDIANAPOLIS | Porter County Auditor Bob Wichlinski would lose access to nearly all the money generated by his crackdown on homestead tax credit abusers under legislation approved by a House committee Thursday.

EDITORIAL: Porter County should reinstate TQM program

In shutting down the total quality management program last week, the Porter County Council put the county back in the Dark Ages.

EDITORIAL: A pilot program for a satellite office

For decades, Portage officials have expressed a desire for more accessible county services. Now Porter County has a chance to see whether offering those services is a smart investment.

Porter County commissioners asked to broadcast meetings

VALPARAISO | A proposal has been on the table for the past year to install cameras in the main meeting room at the county administration center.

County auditor planning big boost in OT in 2013

VALPARAISO | In the wake of a heated debate over the lack of pay raises for Porter County employees next year, County Auditor Bob Wichlinski is attracting attention with his plan to significantly increase overtime pay in his 2013 budget.

Officials eye $1.6 million from homestead violations

VALPARAISO | Porter County Auditor Bob Wichlinski has collected nearly $1.6 million since last year from taxpayers improperly receiving a homestead deduction.

Porter County financial reports now available online

VALPARAISO | Want to know the top 100 taxpayers in each of the county's taxing districts?

EDITORIAL: Lake, Porter working on Government 2.0

While political storms swirl in Lake and Porter counties, some government officials are doing good work in the trenches. They deserve recognition for their efforts.

Task Force Tips forgiven for tardy abatement filing

VALPARAISO | The City Council was willing to forgive Task Force Tips for failing to file its abatement paperwork with the Porter County auditor's office on time, but the company will pay a big price for its error next year.

Public invited to discuss tax cap program with Porter officials

HEBRON | Taxpayers are invited to take part in a talk about about taxes with Porter County Auditor Bob Wichlinski, County Assessor Jon Snyder and County Treasurer Mike Bucko at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Hebron High School Auditorium.

Valpo gets lesson in tax cap impact

VALPARAISO | The city can expect about a $1.3 million hit as a result of the state's new property tax cap law that limits property taxes it can collect.

County tax officials take show on the road

PORTAGE | Porter County's three top tax officials will be traveling around the county beginning in September telling residents about the ramifications of tax caps and how they are going to affect their lives.