As I considered my candidacy for the At Large seat for the Johnson County Council, I spent a great deal of time talking to taxpayers, county employees, local business leaders and others about key issues facing our county government.

Here is a synopsis of the issues, and my positions on them. If you have other issues you believe are important, click here and send me an email.

Budget

The county budget without question is the largest and most concerning issue Johnson County will face in the coming years. The issues listed below will all be part of the solution. Communication, collaboration and innovation will be vital in resolving our budgetary issues. Communication between the county council, commissioners and department heads will be critical.

Unlike our federal government, I believe our county has been prudent with our tax dollars and does not have a significant spending problem. Instead, we have a revenue problem. We need to believe in the people we have hired
to serve in their respective positions. However, it is also the responsibility of the council and commissioners to ask questions, seek innovative solutions and work side-by-side with the department heads to maximize efficiency for the taxpayers and leave no potential solution off the table. No single group has every answer -- and that is why I believe communication, collaboration, and innovation will triumph.

Wheel Tax

The sustainability of our county’s infrastructure is dependent on the Wheel Tax. Historically, the Wheel Tax was used to repair and improve our roads throughout the county. The functionality has not changed, but the amount of coverage has. As costs have risen since being instated, the Wheel Tax dollars are being stretched to best serve the county. The details of the Wheel Tax need to be reviewed and potentially revised in the very near future.

Inn Keeper’s Tax

An Inn Keeper’s Tax has been considered by the Johnson County Council recently but was not passed. According to the State of Indiana's website (http://www.in.gov/dor/3469.htm) , there are 68 counties in Indiana that have some sort of Inn Keeper’s Tax with an average rate of 5 percent. The average Inn Keeper’s Tax in Indiana has been in place for more than 20 years. Johnson County's unique position along key highways such as Interstate 65 and State Road 37 and the hotels and motels that have developed along there give us an opportunity for additional revenue. The Johnson County Council owes the taxpayers the due diligence of once again exploring this model for additional revenues.

Property Taxes

The county’s property tax revenues have significantly decreased due to recent state legislation and the nationwide depreciation in property values. I believe the property tax rate caps are fair, and as the overall economy improves,
so will the property values and therefore property tax revenues.

Law Enforcement

One of the primary obligations of federal, state, county and city governments is public safety. Our county and municipalities are blessed to have law enforcement officials who have a deep pride and passion for public safety.
As budgets remain constrained, it is imperative that the county and municipal law enforcement officials continue to collaborate and prudently use resources to maintain the public’s safety. One specific example would be the consolidation of the four dispatch facilities in the county down to two. This process has started and is to be in place by 2014.

Please feel free to visit my Get Involved page for my contact information.

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