The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 5, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 March 1990 — Page 5

Under the . . . Courthouse », Dome By Ron Sharp K JM* ft * th ifO

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING US? That is a question that all property taxpayers should be asking their public officials now. Local taxing units will take out of the pockets of Kosciusko County people between 42 and 44 million dollars to operate services for 1990. If the estimated 44 million figure is close, it means that in just five years Kosciusko County citizens have lost almost 20 million dollars in purchasing power, and merchants 140 million dollars’ worth in gross sales. In 1985 local taxing units took a little over 22 million dollars in local money to educate our children and provide services for county, townships, libraries, cities and towns in the county. The 44-million-dollar bill for 1990 translates into an average cost of $637 for each man, woman, and child in the county. This compares with a little over half that much — $341 each — in 1985. About 40 million dollars will come from personal and property tax — the other four and a half million from local option tax. The amount to operate just the county government alone has seen a dramatic increase — not only in the tax rate but also in total funds required. In 1981 the county tax rate was .737 per SIOO of taxaMe property with no local option tax. This raised about two and a half pillion dollars. Compare this with the 1989 tax load with a rate of $1.0447 per SIOO assessed property value to equal $4,288,084. Add to this the income from the local option tax of $1,258,497. Total local tax load: $5,546,581. Prior to their 1990 budget hearing county officials were asking for $5,430,954 from county property taxpayers. They also expected to receive $1,859,198 from the local option tax. More than $7,000,000 to operate the county in 1990! In less than 10 years county taxpayers have seen an increase from a little over two and a half million to seven million dollars!! Don’t swallow that “baloney” that taxes are being held down. Kosciusko County has for years had a policy of having reasonable tax rates. But forget it! That policy is “out the window” now. When they find an excuse to pick your pocket, they do just that. The county commissioners and county council have provided a classic example of this: They added a buck to your monthly telephone bill to help subsidize 911. Either federal revenue-sharing funds or surplus general funds could be used for this purpose. Comparing our tax rate with other counties may not take into consideration that other counties do not have a local option tax. Some have county hospitals that require use of tax revenue and other services not offered by our county. Also interesting is the assessed property in the county. In previous years county officials figured that the increase in valuations would make up for any increase cost in operating the local government. The dollars generated by increased valuation has also been swallowed up. For comparison the past assessed valuations are listed below. 1977 $187,124,090 1985 367,168,850 1986 382,881,140 1987 389,025,220 1988 398,727,420 1989 410,530,150 Your tax rate is determined by the assessed valuation and the amount of funds asked by the taxing agencies. An example: To raise S4O million — using the 1989 evaluation of more than $4lO million — it would take a rate of $9.76 per SIOO of taxable property. The 1977 figures of $187,124,098 would take a tax rate of $21.38 to raise the S4O million. QUESTION: Where are they taking us? ANSWER: Right straight to the poor house! What can you do about it? PLENTY! Voters of Kosciusko County will have a chance to express their displeasure in the November general election. FIRST: REGISTER TO VOTE. (If you are not registered, do so.) SECOND: DEMAND TO KNOW WHERE A CANDIDATE STANDS AND WHAT HE PLANS TO DO TO HOLD DOWN EXPENDITURES. THIRD: DISREGARD PARTY LINES. VOTE YOUR POCKETBOOK. —o— ARE THE BOYS PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE? This is a question that had popped up after Rob Robinson withdrew from the 1990 Sheriff’s race and his former boss filed for the position. Al Rovenstine held the sheriff’s job for eight years (two 4-year terms). He could not succeed himself, so his chief deputy, Ron Robinson, filed and won the position in 1986. Now Robinson has served four years and is eligible for another four years, but has withdrawn in favor of Rovenstine, who can now run for another two terms. This can be interesting. Will the voters be willing to play the game and provide the music for the musical chairs act? Interest seems to be revived in the county council positions. These races may make it possible for voters to express their desires of whether to continue to the spending binge or to take a more conservative stance. TWO CONGRESSMEN AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET - While talking bout those big expenditures for defense, two congressmen voted for their own pet projects. Specific example: The Red Riyer Waterway in Louisiana. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush have all tried unsuccessfully to remove this item from the budget — but to no avail. Q: Why were they unsuccessful? A: Congressmen Lindy Boggs and Bob Livingston, both Louisiana members of the House Appropriations committee. In the Corp of Engineers’ budget is $101,800,000 for 1990 for this project which is estimated to cost more than $2 billion. What good will the Red River Waterway be to the U.S. taxpayer? A BIG FAT ZERO! This project is an attempt by two boon-doggling congressmen to bolster the economic health of one small area of the U.S. — Shreveport, LA.!

UNCLAIMED SCHOOL SEWING MACHINES NECCHI'S school sales department ordered the production of large quantities of their NEW 1990 SEW A SERGE Sewing Machines, anticipating large school sales. The anticipated sales were not realized . . . These machines must be soldi 11 All machines offered are the most modern in the NECCHI line. These machines are made of metal and sew on all fabrics — Denim . . . Upholstery . . . Canvas . . . Nylon . . . Silk . . . Stretch — they even sew on Leatherll These machines are all brand new with a 5-year manufacturer's warranty. With the new 1990 NECCHI SEW A SERGE Sewing Machine you just set the Color Coded dial and see magic happen! Straight Sewing . . . Buttonholes (any size) . . . Zig Zag . . . Invisible Blind Hems . . . Monograms . . . Satin Stitch Embroidery . . . Appliques . . . Sew on Buttons and Snaps . . . Top Stitching . . . Elastic Stitch . . . Straight Stretch Stitch . . . Professional Serge-Over lock Stitch ... ALL THIS PLUS MOREII Without the use of old fashioned cams or programmers. Your Price With This Ad Is Only $l9B — Without Ad $529 CASH, CHECKS, LAYAWAYS ACCEPTED VISA — MASTERCARD ONE DAY ONLY Holiday Inn 2519 E. Center St. Warsaw, IN Friday, March 16, 1990 10 A.M.-6 P.M.

Wolkins' bill will be signed by governor

A bill creating solid waste management districts will very likely be signed by Governor Evan Bayh. That’s the word, as of March 14, from District 18 Representative Dave Wolkins, who was responsible for pushing the bill the whole way. Wolkins also said he expects that Bayh will claim the bill as part of his own environmental package. The governor had a bill of his own on solid waste management but in the end, the Wolkins bill was the vehicle for solid waste legislation. The boat bill, which 13th District Senator Bob Meeks has been behind, also made the grade on the last day of the 1990 General Assembly — March 13. The bill will allow boat fees to be based on value, not length. Legislation that caused fees to be determined by length was passed last year — and proved highly controversial. Also contained in the boat bill was legislation on automobile excise taxes. The change allows for

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Roemer knocks on 10,000th door

Democratic Congressional candidate Tim Roemer said Congress should reassess the manner in which foreign policy is formulated, including proposals to assist emerging democracies. Roemer, who was knocking on his 10,000th door on March 9, in South Bend, urged Congress not to throw millions of dollars into an unresolved situation. Recently, a proposal was initiated in Congress to debate giving foreign

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GOP DINNER SPEAKER — Indiana Treasurer of State Marjorie H. O'Laughlin was the guest speaker for the annual Kosciusko County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner Wednesday evening, March 7. This year’s dinner was one of the largest in recent years, with nearly 300 persons attending. Kosciusko County Republican Chairman J.D. Geiger served as emcee for the evening. During Mrs. O’Laughlin’s speech she noted that the state treasurer's office is a vital office and it is involved with the governor and lieutenant governor with financing. She also pointed out she has the longest tenure of an elected official. She is in her 12th year of public office. Shirley Baker, State GOP Vice Chairwoman, was present and gave a brief talk before the crowd on happenings within the state GOP office. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

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all cars with a base price under $22,000 to receive excise tax cuts starting at 30 percent for new cars, 25 percent for second year automobiles, and for older cars, a 15 percent cut. The plan provides a $75 million annual tax cut for the state. Wolkins said the bill now also allows for owners of cars in the $22,500 to $30,000 range

Letter to the editor

Frustrated over finances

Dear Editor: I have just read the article “Financing School Construction” in last week’s The Mail-Journal, and twice I have been frustrated because I could not understand it. I am not blaming the reporter who, obviously, attempted to do some interpreting of her readers. But this I glean — we as taxpayers are already deeply in debt, and more is contemplated — the maximum, in fact, permitted under some nebulous state

aid to the Soviet Union. Over the past eight months, Poland, Hungary, Panama and Nicaragua have asked the U.S. for monetary assistance. “If countries abroad need assistance, let’s send a business corps consisting of young students who could work with national leaders to enhance foreign trade,” Roemer said. “We could initiate a program to send teachers and health care ad-

receive small breaks beginning in 1992. * Finally, education and budget bills were both passed at 11:59 p.m, on March 13. However, two issues which were expected to cause legislative action — abortion and collective — did not result in any legislation for this year’s session.

law which perhaps only two Indiana University, professors understand! As taxpayers in the Wawasee Community School Corporation, we deserve widely-published lucid explanations of our schools’ financial situation. And these explanations should come from the top administrators of our school system for whose decision and pipe dreams we will be paying long years ahead. Berniece H. Dwyer

ministrators overseas. We could send agricultural experts to negotiate proposals designed to eliminate our trade imbalance. Roemer proposed the idea of an international business corps in early December. The purpose of the group would be to establish educational and educational business practices abroad, and according to Roemer, this measure would foster democracy and create new markets for U.S. products. “Congress needs to address problems facing the U.S. before we send millions of dollars in aid to the Soviets,” Roemer said. “We have a massive trade deficit, high dropout rates in education, and a drug problem that is reaching into our elementary schools. Many of our children wouldn't be able to locate the Soviet Union on a map.” Roemer believes strengthening the U.S. economy, nationally and internationally, should be a top priority in Washington.

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“CRUZIN around CUSE"

(Continued from page 4) SADLY, THE Alumni Banquet this year, planned for May 26, will be the last one held in the old Syracuse High School building, now the Syracuse Middle School. Too bad the beautiful artistocratic building cannot be preserved in some way for some use. Seems the old classic architecture comes down and the straightlined, functional-looking buildings remain. All that is left of the old Syracuse Elementary building, previously the Syracuse High School, on Main Street across from the public library, is a memorial stone. That wonderful old style would have fit in perfectly with the desires now of the town to re-create an old-fashioned look in the downtown area. Members and graduates of the school on Brooklyn Street will want to be sure to attend this last alumni banquet in that old building, where the doors will be closed for the last time on June 1. BILL FISHER of Fisher’s Lawn and Garden Center wants to end rumors that Krider’s Nursey will be moving into his location. Fisher’s has been, and will continue to be, a full lawn and

Retail Merchants plan 'sos, '6os dance in April

Syracuse will be moving to the sounds of the 1950 s and ’6os on Saturday, April 7, with the Syracuse Retail Merchants promoting a dance at the Syracuse American Legion. Retail Merchants announced plans for the dance at their monChildren's income Under certain conditions, parents can include their children’s income on their own 1989 income tax returns and thereby avoid having to file separate returns for their children. Parents may be able to make the election to claim their children’s interest and dividend income on their returns by completing Form 8814, “Parent’s Election of Report Child’s Interest and Dividends,” and attaching the form to their federal income tax returns. For more information about your dependent’s filing requirements, order Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, by calling toll-free, 1-800-424-3676.

Wed., March 14,1990 —THE MAIL-JOURNAL

garden center and has recently entered into an agreement with Sautter’s Nursery in Elkhart to serve as Fisher’s source of supply in the future. All nursery supplies Bill has in stock currently will be donated to the park department. HEALTH REASONS have required Terry Miller to move back to Indiana from Florida a month earlier than intended. He arrived in town Saturday, March 10. He said he will no doubt be "house-bound” for a long time, and would like to hear from his many Syracuse friends and see them via “planned” visits. He claims to have a tan from his Florida months. Though not in good health, he was able to attend the theatre to see “Heart Strings,” and “Evening of the Arts,” which combined the Miami Symphony, Opera Company and City Ballet Corps, and Luciano Pavarotti’s concert while in Florida. Here, he will continue his writing obligations via long distance, recently accepting an offer to write a column for the South Florida Network/Hospice Program in their publications. Welcome back to Terry in time for some warm spring-like temperatures.

thly meeting last Friday. The dance, which begins at 9 p.m., will feature a dance contest and prizes for best costumes from the ’sos and ’6os era. The Legion Hall will be draped in decorations from that time period and anyone wanting to donate such decor may take it to the Creative Touch Studio, SR 13. The merchants are also at-

Ist Annual St. Patrick's Day Q|! DANCE * Saturday, March 17 9 P.M.-l A.M. Syracuse American Legion 1 Admission $4 Per Person DI Playing Music Os The W’ sO's, 6O's & 7O's W Sponsored By The Syracuse/Wawaseo • W Park Foundation jgf Proceeds Go Toward Music ... w ” In The Park Program

tempting to locate a waitress who can roller skate. Anyone interested may contact Judy Moser at Creative Touch. A fundraiser for the merchants’ association, the dance will be hosted by a local disc jockey. The merchants meet again at Creative Touch Studio at 8 a.m. Friday, April 6.

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