Primary Media Questions & Answers

In the weeks before the May primary election, the Lebanon Reporter and the Zionsville Times-Sentinel newspapers ran a special section profiling the various candidates for local offices. Below are the questions County Council candidates were asked and my responses (limited to 150 words each).

1. With rising expenses, such as the cost of fuel, and shrinking revenue, would you consider an increase in local option income tax? If so, what’s the upper limit, if not, why not?
While I think it’s unwise to rule out any possibility categorically, particularly in light of the General Assembly’s continuing changes to local government funding rules, I would be strongly opposed to an increased LOIT for Boone County. First, I don’t think we need it; Boone County’s finances, at least for the near term, are sound enough to leave some flexibility in meeting increased expenses without the need for additional taxes. Second, the Local Option Income Tax is a difficult beast to control. Boone County taxpayers get less return on their money than with some other levies because of the inefficiency of state collection and redistribution. Additionally, such taxes are virtually impossible to repeal or even reduce, so governments simply find more ways to spend the revenue until the next justification to raise them again comes along.

2. Is it time for the county to adopt a wheel tax?
We need to think creatively about funding highway maintenance as state and federal funding continues to decline. A wheel tax, essentially a user fee, is certainly an attractive option. Better roads would often result in a net savings on maintenance costs, and wheel taxes are also relatively easy to collect and return to the county. Still, I would consider it an option of last resort, though if the state cannot come through with more funding soon, we may have reached that point. I’ve lived on a gravel road almost my entire adult life, so I understand the desire many have for all our roads to be paved. That’s certainly a goal, but not a high priority. Better maintenance of our current roads, though, is a top priority for me; we should try to do that from current revenue streams, like COIT funds. If we cannot, a wheel tax may be the next best option.

3. Will the loss of revenue from property tax reform force the county to dip into the rainy day fund?
No; at least, not any time soon. It will take several years for the full effects of this year’s tax system changes to reveal themselves, and by then the General Assembly likely will have shaken things up again before we can really know. While some of our cities, towns, libraries and especially our schools may face serious challenges under the current cap system, the county budget should see little impact. Less than a quarter of the county budget comes from property taxes, and only about 10% of Boone County residents’ property tax bill goes to fund county government. More importantly, current and past County Councils have been able to build some flexibility into many areas of the budget that will allow for adjustments in the future without threatening vital services or requiring significant cuts just to balance the books.

4. What plans should the county be making in case the economy doesn’t grow as anticipated?
First, I think Boone County’s overall economic prospects are good, as growth coming up the I-65 and US 421 corridors continues to accelerate and our larger towns (Jamestown, Lebanon, Thorntown, Zionsville) are all positioned to continue adding quality businesses and jobs. We have the rainy day fund to get us through any sudden crises which might arise, as well as several million from a state COIT fund dump that could plug some holes if needed. Our best defense against an economic downturn, though, is better long-term planning. Our budget process tends to look ahead just one or perhaps two years; a longer vision in our planning process will let us prioritize needs and give us the flexibility to adapt to changes both in county revenue and in the community’s needs. State regulations control much of our ability to “save up,” but they still allow some room for improved contingency planning.


5. Are there opportunities for the county to consolidate with other governmental entities for greater efficiency?
Consolidation may not be the right term, but certainly we should do more to explore cooperation across the county. I would like to see county government play a larger role as a conduit, if not always an active participant, in helping our various towns and townships work together in many areas, including purchasing and provision of services. Several years ago the idea of allowing our many small towns to join the county’s larger health insurance pool, with potentially significant savings, was discussed but never carried through. That’s one opportunity for cooperation I’d like to revisit. Libraries, police and fire agencies, parks, street and highway departments, even schools, could benefit from more cooperation while providing better service at lower cost, and county government is the logical place to facilitate those discussions. Some already do this well – our public safety officials in particular come to mind – but more could always be done.