The Bartholomew County Council hasn’t made a decision yet on whether to approve a new property tax or a new income tax.
The county’s judges and sheriff say the county needs to better fund the criminal justice system.
A cumulative capital development fund would allow the county to build up money from property taxes for construction projects, building repairs or planning for large purchases down the road, while the additional local option income tax would be earmarked for public safety needs.
The County Council held a special meeting Monday night to hear the public’s thoughts on the proposals. The members of the public that spoke were opposed to the tax increase proposals.
Columbus resident Glenn Petri said that those on Social Security saw only a tiny increase in their income last year, and that was more than offset by the increased costs in health care.
Judge Jim Worton said he was not advising the council on its decision one way or another, but he pointed out the vital need for more corrections officers in the county jail. He talked about a recent incident in which an attorney was meeting with a client who became threatening and there was no staff available to help intervene. He said that luckily no one got hurt.
Judge Kelly Benjamin said that there has to be a plan to improve staffing in the jail. She said county decision makers need to ensure a safe work environment for county workers.
Sheriff Matt Myers says that the jail staff and deputies are stretched to the breaking point, having made do with less for years.
Myers said the sheriffs department went through a Six Sigma review with the assistance of Cummins and that review found an immediate need for seven more staff in the jail and 11 in the department.
The County Council is on a tight timeline if it wants to approve the property tax hike. State deadlines would require that decision by the first of August. Council President Laura DeDemonic says that the council would have to vote at its next meeting on July 18th, if it they want to proceed this year.