The Mail-Journal, Volume 22, Number 6, Milford, Kosciusko County, 6 February 1985 — Page 2
THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., February 6,1985
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County council discusses adoption of option tax
The Kosciusko County Council met Thursday evening, Jan. 31, in the courthouse with 16 taxpayers, property owners and elected officials attending. The purpose of the meeting was to make a decision to vote on the county option income tax. At the January 10 council meeting, councilman J. Norman DeGood presented two resolutions, one of which called for scheduling a public hearing, and the second which asked the Kosciusko County Income Tax Council to consider and propose an ordinance establishing county option income tax rates from 1985-1990. DeGood stated that if adopted, an option income tax would generate additional funds for the county and other taxing units. He explained that the county is facing financial difficulty and the funds could be used to keep pace with inflationary costs and help solve its problem. Other towns could also use the tax dollars on street and sewer repair or on property tax relief. DeGood went on to say that an option tax would more evenly spread the tax load among both noir-property and property owners in supporting local government services and would essentially reduce some of the burden on property taxpayers. Advertising He told the councilmen that they should begin the procedure of advertising and holding public hearings to meet all deadlines specified by state law. Councilmen Larry Teghtmeyer and Thomas Anglin said they wanted to poll all town boards and township trustees to find out how county residents feel about the adoption of another income tax. Warsaw Common Council; Leesburg, Silver Lake and North Webster Town Boards; Seward, Plain, Washington, Prairie, Franklin, Clay, Jackson, Jefferson, Tippecanoe, Monroe and Wayne Township trustees were sent letters and responded in favor of the tax. Opposing were Sidney, Syracuse, Winona Lake, Etna Green and Mentone Town Boards and Van Buren and Turkey Creek Township trustees. Those members eligible to vote on the tax issue are 13 taxing units of the Kosciusko County Income Tax Council which include Kosciusko County Council, Warsaw Common Council and Silver Lake, Sidney, Syracuse, North Webster, Milford, Mentone, Etna Green, Pierceton, Leesburg and Burket Town Boards. The county council, with 62 votes, has the final decision to adopt an option tax since the number of votes is based on the population within the taxing unit. In 1973 the local option was adopted by the county council and the income tax went into effect on July 1, 1973. Taxes were then deducted from the paychecks of employees in the county and tax dollars were paid to the state which in turn returned the money to the county auditor who distributed the funds among local taxing units. During the next four years, the taxes were collected from wage earners until the council voted 4-3, in a meeting in January 1978, to stop the option tax. At that time, taxpayers were paying onehalf of one percent. Newest Proposal The newest option tax proposal calls for two-tenths of one percent with an increase of one-tenth of one percent each year. When the tax reaches six-tenths of one percent, it would remain at that level. DeGood states it would then require council action to freeze, increase, lower or stop the tax. The council could stop the tax at any time after it has been adopted. Thursday’s meeting was opened with councilman George Klinger asking those attending if they favor or oppose the proposed income tax. Those favoring the tax were Robert Tess, Warsaw
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School Board member; Jeff Plank, Warsaw mayor; Virginia Summer, Warsaw Common Council member; Dennis Wuthrich, Milford Town Board member; Howard Woodward, local businessman; and Everett Vanator, representing the Kosciusko County Senior Citizens group. At the close of the two-hour public on Thursday night, the decision to vote on the issue was reached with one-third of those attending voicing opposition to the proposed v tax and one-third favoring. The rest were silent. A signed petition by 172 Syracuse area residents opposing the proposal was presented by county council president George Klinger. It stated that the proposed tax is not needed and will mean a reduction in the takehome pay of workers. It asks the council to use its ability to properly manage funds. The council decided to vote on the issue after listening to the opinions of the several attending taxpayers. A motion to instruct county auditor J. D. Geiger to advertise a proposed county option income tax, attached with a homestead credit, was made by councilman DeGood. This will be taken under of advisement at the next council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. in the courthouse. Councilmen DeGood, Larry Teghtmeyer, Thomas Anglin, Klinger, Carl Latta, Dennis Polk and Kathryn Teel voted to consider the option tax. Comments On The Tax Some comments given on the proposed option tax were heard. One, by former county councilman Eldred Metzger, said he still opposes the tax because it places a burden on poor people and he believes persons who rent homes or apartments pay property taxes through their monthly rental cost. Another remark given was by Ken Jones of Warsaw who said he thinks the residents of the county get taxed enough. A Syracuse resident, Robert Smith, stated that “This tax business has got to stop. This is going to bring us to another depression.” Glen Albright, a field supervisor with the State Board of Tax Commissioners, warned the county council in January to curb additional appropriation expenditures during the year because of a deterioration in the county’s financial posture. During the November state tax board budget hearings he said that the council could face a cash flow shortage in 1986 unless it raises necessary funds to pay expenditures during the first six months of 1986 or until the tax disbursement in June of that year. A document showing that the county’s total estimated income in 1985 will be $4,151,000 and the expenditures will be $4,821,549, leaving a net deficit of $670,549 for this year was presented by Teghtmeyer. According to DeGood, if additional tax dollars are not generated to cover inflationary costs and an increased workload in the courts and other departments, the council will then be forced to make budgetary cuts resulting in the lay-offs of county employees next year. The council will have to make up the difference elsewhere if the federal government eliminates federal revenue sharing funds said Klinger. As of now, he stated, the bulk of the federal revenue sharing funds are slated for county road maintenance. DeGood went on to say that if more tax dollars are not raised to pay for rising insurance, fuel bills, postage, and maintenance costs, then the county council may be forced to issue bonds to continue providing services demanded by the people and more taxpayers will then be paying more money on interest. Income/Spending Teghtmeyer compared the coun-
ty income and spending patterns during a 10-year period in which the cash flow pattern showed the following: In 1975 a positive difference of $455,581; in 1976 a positive difference of $254,404; in 1977 a positive difference of $123,397; in 1978 a negative difference of $481,293; in 1979 a negative difference of $102,350; in 1980 a positive difference of $349,928; in 1981 a positive difference of $1,266,312 (some difficulty in verifying income data for that year); in 1982 a negative difference of $38,842; in 1983 a negative difference of $205,143; in 1984 a negative difference of $253,821; and in 1985 a projected negative difference of $862,008. The county’s cash flow had been declining since the option tax was stopped in 1978. Adoption of an option tax will result in a reduced property tax rate for county residents according to figures shown by Teghtmeyer. The total tax rate would be reduced from the current 85.3 cent rate to 80.5 cents per SIOO assessed valuation. Homestead Credit When it is passed, the county can include a homestead credit in the option tax ordinance under the new option tax law. Property
January weather in review January of 1985 had its weather summed up in one word — cold. According to Lores Steury, Goshen College weather observer, the normal average temperature for January is 24.1 degrees and we registered only 19.8 for the month, 4.3 degrees below normal. The warmest day was the fifth with 38 degrees and the coldest was on the 20th with minus 23 degrees which matched the same low on that date in 1943. Precipitation averages 1.84 normally, we received 2.08 inches. On January 1 we received 1.73 inches of that in rain, the rest was in the form of snow. Average snow fall for January is 7.1 inches, we received 8.8 inches in the area. Most of our snow accumulated from several small snows, and it snowed a total of 17 days in January. The month is credited with 17 cloudy days, 14 partly cloudy. There were some sunny spots, but not enough to be counted as clear. »
John Schneider talks about his burgeoning musical career
By LIZ CUTLER Cuest Feature Writer Actor John Schneider is excited about his burgeoning musical career. “I never dreamed in a million years that* 1 the music would work this well,” the 30-year-old entertainer said recently in a telephone interview. “I pinch myself everytime I hear it on the radio, because I can’t believe it.” The star of television’s “Dukes Os Hazard” realized his first hit single within the last several months as “I’ve Been Around Enough To Know” hit the top of the country charts. His second hit, “Country Girls,” is now moving up the same charts. Both songs are from his first album for MCA Records, “Too Good To Stop Now.” “I’ve never had a song do that kind of business before,” he comments. He previously recorded four albums on the Scotti Brothers label, which spawned two singles, “Still” and “Them Good Ole Boys.” “It affects everything,” he adds. “It’s a whole different thing, because now people are coming to hear the music, which is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. With the recent cancellation of the television series, Schneider is finding more time to concentrate on his musical career. “If the TV show were to stop tomorrow, the next morning I’d be on the bus,” he said in a magazine interview last fall. “I really want to play country music live. Out on the road.” That apparently is what he is doing. Next Sunday, Feb. 10, he will appear at Warsaw’s Wagon Wheel Playhouse, during a weeklong tour of the midwest which also includes stops in Indianapolis and Nashville, Ind. He recently finished his second album for the Nashville recording company, and it is yet unnamed. “I believe we’re going to call it “Trying To Outrun The Wind,” he says, noting that is one of the songs on the album. The new release is produced by Jimmy Bowen, the MCA executive who also produced “Too Good To Stop Now.” But that may be the only similarity the albums have, outside of the performer. “The other one was ten different songs and ten, not completely different styles, but there were several different directions happening there,” he says. He adds that the cuts on the new record are “all very intimate. They’re all in the first person.” The Warsaw concert will feature songs from the first album, as well as a sneak preview of the new one. “It will be a lot of fun,” he predicts. “It’s not a big light show, or anything
owners residing in Kosciusko County could be made eligible for a homested credit ranging from two to eight percent. If the twotenths of one percent were levied the first year, a wage earner receiving $15,000 in salary would pay S3O per year or 57 cents per week in option taxes. They would also receive a property tax reduction of $2 per week through homestead credit. DeGood also pointed that those persons owning lake homes but not residing full-time in the county would not be eligible for a homestead credit. Wage earners would pay an option tax through a payroll deduction system if the council decides to adopt an option tax. Persons who work in Kosciusko County, but reside in another county, would be required to pay an option tax to local government. This would be around 3,500 people. Employers would be required to send option taxes to the state, which would return the money to the county auditor. The auditor would then distribute the funds to taxing units throughout the county. According to DeGood those individuals not requiring to pay an option tax would be those receiving social security and railroad pensions.
like that. It’s just me and my band.” When he is not involved with his music, the Mt. Kisco, N.Y., native is busy reviewing potential movies and plays at his production company. Trails End. He is currently developing a movie, “Collier and Company,” that will be filmed in the next several months in Texas. Also in the planning stages is what he terms an “anti-drug” film which is full of action and excitement, called “The Fine White Line.” He also hopes to lead a revival of western films. “I love westerns,” he says. “I want to put a bunch of them into a can and tie them onto my saddle and ride ’em back into Hollywood.” A role in a Broadway play, “Perfect Strangers,” with Luci Arnez may also be in the offing. Originally slated to go into rehearsals this spring, that has been pushed back to the fall, according to Schneider. That will allow time for Miss Arnez to spend time with her new baby and Schneider to complete his concert obligations. “It’s a musical version of ‘Bustop,’ ” he describes the production. “It s a pretty good play.” If it becomes a reality, it will be the first live theatre Schneider has done since first appearing in Dukes of Hazard in 1979, with the exception of an appearance in “Oklahoma” in Houston. “I love theatre,” he says. “It’s so much fun. I did that for 17 years before “Dukes” and it’s something you never quite get out of your system.”
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AVID FISHERMEN — There were 29 entrants in this year’s Syracuse-Wawasee Winter Carnival fishing contest trying to win first or second place in one of the six categories. Os all the categories there were no walleye caught during the contest duration. The event started on Saturday morning with registration at 7 a.m., and a weigh-in at 2 p.m. and again on Sunday with registration at 7 a.m. with final weighin at 2 p.m. and the winners were announced. Ed Bogart, contest chairman, stated winners received cash prizes in addition to gift certificates from area merchants. The w inners and their fish are show n in
Winter Carnival winners named at Syracuse
(Continued from page 1) nival. There were two categories for racing and each group ran a 10-lap course in a heat. The winners were: 0-200 — Junior Liggett, Churabusco, first; Dave Bickis, Fort Wayne, second; and Charles Parr, North Webster, third 226 and up — Randy Rinker, Syracuse, first; Mike Kaiass, Bristol, second; and Mike Grady, Syracuse, third The winners in the Second Annual FFA Pedal Tractor Pull from last Saturday have been announced. Placing first in the fivesix year-old division was Andy Rumfelt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Rumfelt, Milford. Second place went to Phillip Kuhn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kuhn, Syracuse and the third place finisher was William Darr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Darr of North Webster. In the seven-eight year-old division, first place went to Michael Schafer, son of Dr. and Mrs. A. G. Schafer, Milford: Second place went to Joshua Bess of Milford, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Bess. Placing third was Jodi Goon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Karlton Goon. Warsaw. All three contestants completed a full pull on their first attempt and then with additional weight added on their second attempt, Michael Schafer outpulled Joshua Bess by three inches and Jodi Goon by six inches to capture the first place trophy. In the nine-ten year-old class.
Athletic program described
Hal Traviolia, athletic director for Wawasee High School, explained the place of athletics in a high school for Kiwanis Club of Lakeland, North Webster, on Monday morning, Jan. 28. He pointed out that there are many kinds of worthwhile activities in high school today available for students. This leads to competition and specialization as students choose the activities best suited to their abilities. Wawasee High School has an enrollment of 910 and a variety of sports in which students may participate. There are 17 varsity sports, 11 reserve sports and four sports for freshmen. At the present time there are eight varsity sports for girls. The school’s facilities and training rank among the best in the state. Traviolia mentioned that cancellation of contests because of extremely cold weather creates many problems for his
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FURRY FELLOWS — These bearded men had the finest facial hair at the Winter Carnival’s mustache and beard contest, sponsored by the ESA Sorority on Saturday. Pictured above are Butch Plikerd, Syracuse, who won the longest beard award; John Stetler, Syracuse, won the best mustache award; and Rodney Campbell, Goshen, won the best all around beard and mustache award. (Photo by Jo Sturgis)
the three finalists all completed tw'o complete pulls and then with over 400 pounds on the miniature weight sled Jennifer Darr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Darr of North Webster took top honors with a pull of thirty-five feet six inches. Placing second was Jason Bogart of Syracuse going a distance of thirty feet six inches. While Tom Kuhn, son of Mr.
department. A great deal of coordination and cooperation is necessary to get things back on track again. He emphasized that for best results, the participants in sports must be student atheletes.
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the photo. Kneeling are John Holloway, Syracuse, first, 18 5/8 Terry Dull holding the first place northern pike and overall wUmer, at 11 pounds caught by Larry Dull, Syracuse; John Veenestra/Goshen, first, 12*4 inch perch; Rob Coffel, Bremen, first, 9 3/4 inch bmegill; K. J. Keene, Syracuse and Dick Coffel, Bremen, tied for secondVboth had a 15 3/4 inch bass; John Rowe, Bremen, second, 10 pound northern pike; and contest entrants Scott Linville, Goshen; Melvini/York, New Paris; and Bob York. Goshen. (Photo by Deb Patterson) /
and Mrs. Anthony Kuhn, Syracuse pulled the sled a total of twenty-nine feet nine inches to
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place third. The pull was sponsored by the Wawasee FFA Chapter.
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