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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Lakes of the Four Seasons fire department calls for aid for financial situation
The Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force answered nearly 1,500 calls for help in 2024. Now it's issuing one of its own. With this year's Senate Enrolled Act 1 promising to choke revenue to the West Porter Township Fire Protection District, combined with a decline in volunteerism, fire protection and EMS service straddling the Lake and Porter County line is facing financial peril. The fire department and fire protection district jointly approached the Porter County Council on Tuesday to make its case for assistance. The cuts don't begin until 2027, but the time to cry out is when the knife first appears, not when the slashing begins. Last year, the district began offering EMS service. Fire department attorney Nathan Vis said the department's response time for EMS calls is four to five minutes, which is faster than average. With a third-party provider, it would be seven to 15 minutes, he guessed. 'We're requesting this evening as much support as you can give us,' he told the council. The department has three ambulances, two of which are staffed by full-time employees. 'We need to hire more persons to assure we have a higher response time,' he said. Providing EMS service costs about $240,000 a year, Vis said. 'We've maxed out the revenue opportunities' the department has, he said. Winfield rents space to the department for $1 a year, about a $10,000 value, he said. Until last fall, the department hadn't had a formal contract nor any government dollars from a Porter County agency, he said. The fire protection district is looking at becoming a fire protection territory, something Porter County Council members have discussed as an option for funding EMS service and fire protection throughout the county's unincorporated areas. 'Unfortunately, it's going to have to come from the (township) trustees. It's going to have to be the townships coming together,' said Council Vice President Ronald 'Red' Stone, R-1st. West Porter Township Fire Protection District Chairman Craig Klauer said aging infrastructure, increasing call volume and equipment costs are taking a toll. For now, however, capital expenditures have been put on hold to focus on providing EMS service. Porter County officials are working on providing ambulance service throughout the county. That includes determining how many ambulances might be needed to serve areas not covered by fire departments that currently provide EMS service. One option might be to add an ambulance in the Boone Grove area, Stone said. For Lakes of the Four Seasons, the closest ambulance would be from either Hebron or Wheeler if not for the fire department. 'When you're thumping on someone's chest for three to five minutes, you're saying where the hell is that ambulance. When are they going to be here,' Klauer said. The county currently contracts with Northwest Health to provide EMS service. 'I will never disrespect NW Health ambulance technicians vs. a regular fire department,' Stone said. 'They're great, but they're spread so thin. They're covering mostly northern' Porter County, Klauer said. And while Northwest Health ambulances traditionally transport patients to the hospital at U.S. 6 and Ind. 49, the nearest hospitals for Lakes of the Four Seasons are in Crown Point and Hobart. 'We've got to sit down and go over all this,' said Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd, who serves on the EMS committee. 'Right now, we're thinking five ambulances throughout the county, but now I'm thinking maybe six.' Complicating the issue is that Lakes of the Four Seasons, which the fire department serves, straddles the county line. The department also serves the town of Winfield and unincorporated Winfield Township, as well as west Porter Township. The department and fire protection district have a spreadsheet that separates the call volume by geography to help guide financial decisions by local government entities that could help support fire protection and EMS service.
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County councilman outlines ways to buffer impact of Indiana's property tax changes
Lake County Councilman Randy Niemeyer proposed Tuesday eliminating 1% of the county's income tax by 2028 as the county braces for the impact of the state's changes to the property tax system. Senate Enrolled Act 1 was a property tax bill that will save two-thirds of taxpayers up to $300 on their 2026 property tax bill while local governments will lose $1.4 billion through 2028. Gov. Mike Braun signed the bill into law April 15 and called it a 'historic' plan to reduce property taxes for most Hoosier homeowners while limiting future tax hikes and making the tax system fairer and more transparent. The county will feel the fiscal impact of Senate Bill 1 in the 2028 budget year, Niemeyer said, as the county is projected to lose $30 million by 2028 and $50 million by 2030. Niemeyer, R-7th, said he reviewed the proposal with local elected officials and Lake County Finance Director Scott Schmal. Senate Bill 1 will eliminate the property tax replacement credit by Dec. 31, 2027, change the business personal property tax structure, eliminate the current local income tax expenditure rate by Dec. 31, 2027, and adopt annual local income tax rates after Dec. 31, 2030, Niemeyer said. The Lake County local income tax was adopted in 2013, and the state legislature mandated that the county use 1% of the local income tax for property tax relief, 0.25% for community economic development and 0.25% for public safety. The new property tax law removes the requirements, Niemeyer said. To achieve a 1% tax cut, Niemeyer said every department and service has to be modernized, every revenue source has to be used to move the county away from relying on property taxes levy and income taxes, and each spending request 'must be justified for the provision of the essential county government services.' 'We have more than enough, even cutting 1% of the LIT after 2027, to fund this government and to move it forward in a productive fashion,' Niemeyer said. 'I suspect that over the next decade we're going to continue to see the system of funding of local government move away from property tax levies and move more toward user fees, income taxes, sales taxes and the like. This is a great start for us to go in that direction.' When Niemeyer ran for the First Congressional District in 2024, he said he visited all three counties and he could 'count on one hand' the number of people who wanted to talk to him about property taxes. 'The narrative that local government is somehow hoarding cash and ripping off taxpayers is simply false,' Niemeyer said. 'Nonetheless, we are presented with a tax reform package that creates multiple challenges for local government.' As the council, the county's fiscal body, approaches the 2026 and 2027 budget years, Niemeyer proposed that the council conduct a detailed examination of all revenue sources and statutes to then determine which general fund expenditures could be shifted to non-levy funds. The council should use 2025 budgets as the baseline for 2026, Niemeyer said, with any raises or office reorganizations offset by fiscal cuts. The council should also look for possible reorganization or staff reduction in all departments as the Oracle system comes online, he said. To address staffing, Niemeyer said the council should look for instances where contractors and employees are doing the same or similar work. He'd also like the council to review all positions being paid supplemental pay from the general fund and miscellaneous funds, and to move those positions out of the general fund where possible and eliminate supplemental pay. Further, Niemeyer would like the council to meet the first Tuesday in September for a 'budget building day' in place of the common practice of budget presentations. The only department heads that would have to attend would be those who request an increase in their budget, he said. As the county addresses the 2028 budget, Niemeyer would like the county to eliminate 1% of its local income tax used to provide the expiring property tax replacement credit. With the remaining 0.5% of the local income tax, the county should allocate those funds for public safety to be distributed to townships for EMS and fire protection, he said. By the 2028 budget, the county can also consider adopting a local income tax based on county government needs, Niemeyer said. 'This year is an important year to set some new budget fundamentals that will help to guide us through these next three years,' Niemeyer said. 'These are just ideas. Everybody is free to agree, disagree. I did this work as a way just to … get this process moving.' Council President Christine Cid, D-5th, said she appreciated the hard work Niemeyer put into the outline. The council has asked department heads to stay within their 2025 budget as they prepare their 2026 budget, Cid said. Cid said she would support eliminating the 1% income tax 'to lessen the burden on our community who would pay these additional taxes, not receive property tax relief, and the increase of the cost of living in today's economic environment.' 'But, in order to eliminate the 1% income tax which currently offers property tax relief, the county would need to continue to collect property taxes,' Cid said. Councilman Ted Bilski, D-6th, said the council received Niemeyer's proposal ahead of the meeting, so he would review it closely in the coming days. But Bilski said he appreciated the hard work that Niemeyer put into the proposal. 'We're facing tough times. We have to do due diligence. Everything has to be considered,' Bilski said. The council also voted unanimously to approve an increase in the county's allowance for veteran's grave markers. Before the vote, the board voted to amend the ordinance to include a 2-year deadline, from the time of the veteran's death, to receive the allowance. The county's current burial allowance for a deceased veteran is $150, which would increase to $225 under the ordinance. The county's current burial allowance for the deceased veteran's spouse is $100, which would increase to $150 under the ordinance. The ordinance also increases the grave marker allowance for a veteran and the veteran's spouse from $60 to $90.
Chicago Tribune
25-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
‘You're shaking out the couch cushions': NWI leaders look for help amid tax cut
Indiana's new property tax system will result in an approximately $303 million reduction over the course of three years for Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, according to the state's Legislative Services Agency. Lake County will see a reduction of $32.9 million in 2026, $37.2 million in 2027 and $165.1 million in 2028 for a total of $235.2 million in three years. Northern Lake County will see the highest reduction in property tax dollars in Northwest Indiana, said Beth Shrader, a planner and project manager with SEH, which along with Baker-Tilly, and Development Economic Finance held a Lunch & Learn session about the fiscal and planning challenges for cities and towns in Porter and Lake County in the wake of Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1). Porter County will see a reduction of $13.7 million in 2026, $14.5 million in 2027 and $21.4 million in 2028 for a total of $49.6 million in three years, LaPorte County will see a reduction of $5.3 million in 2026, $6.3 million in 2027 and $6.5 million in 2028, for a total of $18.1 million in three years, according to LSA. Jason Semler, principal with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, said overall the new property tax system will benefit property owners but hurt local government funding. 'We're going to hurt,' Semler told the crowd of around 35 municipal officials. 'The less that they have to pay, the less money we receive.' Senate Enrolled Act 1 established a new property tax system by saving two-thirds of taxpayers up to $300 on their 2025 property tax bill while local governments, school districts, libraries and other units will lose $1.4 billion through 2028. As the bill moved through the legislature, county, city, and school leaders came to the legislature to testify about its financial impacts. Legislators told the local leaders that they could lean on local income tax to make up any budgetary shortfalls. Semler said Tuesday the legislature took the local income tax structure and 'threw it out and started over.' The local income tax, effective July 1, 2027, will decrease from 3.75% to 2.9%, Semler said. The 2.9% has to be allocated as follows: 1.2% for county general revenue, 0.4% for EMS and fire departments, 0.2% for townships and libraries, he said. Local income tax councils will be eliminated beginning July 1, 2027, and all local income tax rates have to be affirmed by Oct. 1, 2027 to continue into 2028, Semler said. Starting in 2031, the local income tax rates must be adopted annually by county councils, he said. In Porter County, state law requires a portion of the local income tax to go toward the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, said Portage Mayor Austin Bonta. He asked how that will be impacted under the new property tax law. Porter County will have to continue making that payment from its local income tax, Semler said. Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun asked about implementing the local income tax changes in cities and towns that have different zip codes. Hobart has four zip codes, he said, including people who have a Merrillville address but live in the corporate boundaries of Hobart. 'We're going to have to throw darts at a map,' when calculating local income tax rates, Huddlestun said. 'It's a nightmare.' Officials at the Indiana Department of Revenue have said that won't be known for a couple of years, Semler said. But, Semler said that's a good point because someone with a Valparaiso address doesn't necessarily live in city limits, so the tax allocations have to be looked at. 'That is something that's going to have to be worked out,' Semler said. Local leaders can begin preparing and mitigating the fiscal impact under the new property tax system by reviewing revenue projections, preparing a budget outlook, collaborating, creating a capital improvement plan, getting creative and communicating, Shrader said. A capital improvement plan typically projects five years out, Shrader said, and highlights specific projects, which includes linking the projects to budgets and timelines. Capital improvement plans also help build trust with the community, she said. Local officials could also apply for grants at the federal, state and private levels to help fund various projects, said SEH associate planner Nate Day. Another option local officials have to finance big projects amid decreased revenue streams has been lease purchase financing, Shrader said, which is a public-private partnership to complete a project without immediate costs Local officials have used lease purchase when traditional bond options are 'less attractive,' Shrader said. 'A lot of that risk is mitigated through that agreement,' Shrader said. Since 2019, Indiana has allowed for residential tax increment financing, which captures the assessed value of new residential developments, like new construction or age-restricted housing, said Dan Botich, the president for Development Economic Finance Consulting. Under the residential TIF, communities could use the funds from the captured assessed value to finance public safety or capital expenditure, Botich said. Another benefit, Botich said, the developer has to put in public improvements — sewer, streets, lighting, parks — around the residential project. Local leaders have to start preparing for the upcoming change to the property tax system, Shrader said. 'You need to make sure you're reassessing all of your funding options. You're shaking out the couch cushions trying to find any grants, any loans, any other opportunities that you left on the table in the past. If nothing else, to assure the people that you are communicating these issues, these changes and how they're going to impact you that you have looked at all options,' Shrader said.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana's property tax reform delivers relief while preserving local growth
Indiana's 2024 elections sent a message to leaders that Hoosiers across the state were concerned about getting squeezed out of their homes by skyrocketing property taxes. The angst I heard talking to members of our community came, of course, with an acknowledgement that rising taxes were a result of increased home values, but a lack of transparency around home assessments and some frustration with a seemingly endless chain of school referenda made it clear that many Hoosiers were demanding relief. Heading into the 2025 legislative session, it surprised no one that this issue was front and center for lawmakers. After months of negotiations and input from residents, the Indiana General Assembly delivered one of the most significant changes to local taxation we have seen in nearly two decades. No one got exactly what they wanted — it would take you three minutes on social media to know that — but the result is a bill that provides immediate relief to nearly every Hoosier and, when fully implemented, allows homeowners to deduct two-thirds of their assessed value to lower their property tax bill while reining in $54 billion in local government debt. We transformed some tax deductions into tax credits, a change that will result in lower actual tax bills for thousands of taxpayers; moved school referendums to even-year general election ballots to ensure better participation; and lowered the amount of local income taxes governments can collect by $1.9 billion. In short, while changes to tax policy can be complicated, Senate Enrolled Act 1 not only gives Hoosier homeowners tax relief today, but also moves Indiana to a fairer, simpler and more balanced local tax system in the near future. One of my goals as a state legislator is to ensure the voices of growing communities are represented in these debates. It was important that we find a balance between needed relief and the resources upon which communities like mine have come to rely, resources that represent critical investments in quality of life, amenities, infrastructure and key services. Hicks: Braun cut taxes for businesses, but most Hoosiers will pay more Carmel and Westfield, the cities I represent at the Statehouse, have enjoyed forward-thinking, fiscally responsible leadership for years. The results are demonstrative. Carmel, for example, was ranked No. 2 on the list of the Best Places to Live in 2025 by Livability & U.S. News, and both communities are consistently ranked among the best in the country. Indiana, moreover, is now ranked 7th nationally for net in-migration, with the high-earning, talented individuals Indiana needs flocking to cities in Hamilton County. That's not an accident. The strategies that Carmel and Westfield have implemented should be celebrated and enhanced by the policies coming from the Statehouse. That balance was not easy to strike and local governments and schools will, no doubt, be faced with difficult decisions in the future. But SEA 1 represents much-needed reform to a convoluted property tax system that disincentivizes these hard decisions today at taxpayers' expense. Even with these changes, schools in my district will receive more money from property taxes over the next three years, and the new state budget increases tuition support for students. I am proud of the work we did this session on this issue, and I am equally grateful for the perspectives, insights, and counsel shared by our incredible local leaders who helped legislators avoid harmful unintended consequences. As with any bill this complex, property tax reform will remain a topic of discussion in the General Assembly, and we will be making tweaks to the law moving forward. But SEA 1 is a strong step forward to helping homeowners while improving accountability in local government spending. State Rep. Danny Lopez, R-Carmel, represents House District 39, which includes a portion of Hamilton County. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana property tax reform delivers relief for homeowners | Opinion
Indianapolis Star
05-06-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's property tax reform delivers relief while preserving local growth
Indiana's 2024 elections sent a message to leaders that Hoosiers across the state were concerned about getting squeezed out of their homes by skyrocketing property taxes. The angst I heard talking to members of our community came, of course, with an acknowledgement that rising taxes were a result of increased home values, but a lack of transparency around home assessments and some frustration with a seemingly endless chain of school referenda made it clear that many Hoosiers were demanding relief. Heading into the 2025 legislative session, it surprised no one that this issue was front and center for lawmakers. After months of negotiations and input from residents, the Indiana General Assembly delivered one of the most significant changes to local taxation we have seen in nearly two decades. No one got exactly what they wanted — it would take you three minutes on social media to know that — but the result is a bill that provides immediate relief to nearly every Hoosier and, when fully implemented, allows homeowners to deduct two-thirds of their assessed value to lower their property tax bill while reining in $54 billion in local government debt. We transformed some tax deductions into tax credits, a change that will result in lower actual tax bills for thousands of taxpayers; moved school referendums to even-year general election ballots to ensure better participation; and lowered the amount of local income taxes governments can collect by $1.9 billion. In short, while changes to tax policy can be complicated, Senate Enrolled Act 1 not only gives Hoosier homeowners tax relief today, but also moves Indiana to a fairer, simpler and more balanced local tax system in the near future. One of my goals as a state legislator is to ensure the voices of growing communities are represented in these debates. It was important that we find a balance between needed relief and the resources upon which communities like mine have come to rely, resources that represent critical investments in quality of life, amenities, infrastructure and key services. Carmel and Westfield, the cities I represent at the Statehouse, have enjoyed forward-thinking, fiscally responsible leadership for years. The results are demonstrative. Carmel, for example, was ranked No. 2 on the list of the Best Places to Live in 2025 by Livability & U.S. News, and both communities are consistently ranked among the best in the country. Indiana, moreover, is now ranked 7th nationally for net in-migration, with the high-earning, talented individuals Indiana needs flocking to cities in Hamilton County. That's not an accident. The strategies that Carmel and Westfield have implemented should be celebrated and enhanced by the policies coming from the Statehouse. That balance was not easy to strike and local governments and schools will, no doubt, be faced with difficult decisions in the future. But SEA 1 represents much-needed reform to a convoluted property tax system that disincentivizes these hard decisions today at taxpayers' expense. Even with these changes, schools in my district will receive more money from property taxes over the next three years, and the new state budget increases tuition support for students. I am proud of the work we did this session on this issue, and I am equally grateful for the perspectives, insights, and counsel shared by our incredible local leaders who helped legislators avoid harmful unintended consequences. As with any bill this complex, property tax reform will remain a topic of discussion in the General Assembly, and we will be making tweaks to the law moving forward. But SEA 1 is a strong step forward to helping homeowners while improving accountability in local government spending.
