Money focused

DUNKIRK — Money.

Whether in the form of taxes, grant programs, healthcare or other issues, money was at the forefront Saturday.

State Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) and State Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) discussed Senate Bill 1 — it focuses on property taxes — as well as various other measures making their way through the Indiana Statehouse during a legislative update Saturday morning at West Jay Community Center.

As was the case during an update last month in Portland, there was extensive discussion about Senate Bill 1. Holdman opened by presenting information about the bill, which he said was introduced as requested by first-year Indiana Gov. Mike Braun with the understanding that changes would be made. It has already been modified in the senate and is now going through the process in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Holdman expressed concern over spending at the local level, noting $54 billion in debt through referenda and bonds. He questioned the practice of financing 100% of capital projects rather than having a down payment.

Jay County Council member Bryan Alexander, who previously served two terms on Jay School Board, pointed out that such an effort was made locally for the auxiliary gym project at Jay County Junior-Senior High School about a decade and a half ago. He said the school corporation got “hammered” by the state for that approach.

Holdman said the ultimate goal of Senate Bill 1 is to be fair.

"We're up against trying to find the middle ground between being fair to the taxpayer but at the same time keeping local government operating as best they can,” said Holdman.

Prescott also noted efforts in the house to shift to a rate-based rather than a levy-based system and proposals to repeal the Homestead deduction and replace it with others.

Both legislators said it’s unclear what the property tax legislation will look like in its final version as modifications are continuing to be made.

Jay Schools superintendent Jeremy Gulley addressed the tax issue, pointing out that Jay County was one of a handful that were negatively impacted after the last modification to the bill. (Its projected tax revenue hit went up while most in the state were reduced.)

Holdman committed to that problem being fixed, saying he has already spoken to House Ways and Means chair Rep. Jeff Thompson regarding the issue.

“We do not want that to happen,” he added of the negative impacts. “We’re doing our best to basically make schools whole as best we can … because we realize schools will be under the gun the most because they are the largest taxing unit in most counties."

During his comments, Gulley indicated that Jay School Corporation is just trying to maintain its schools and that work is needed on items such as heating and cooling systems in order to make buildings viable for the long term. He invited the public to a school board work session on possible capital improvements scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, March 31, at the General Shanks building in Portland.

Alexander expressed concern about the property tax legislation, saying the county and its other taxing units need to have funding to cover roads, emergency medical service, fire departments, police, schools and other necessities. There is not much fat at the local level, he said. He asked Holdman and Prescott to look out for their rural communities, saying they do not have the resources of larger communities to cushion the blow of major hits to tax revenue.

Jay County Commissioners president Chad Aker and Redkey Town Council member “Watermellon” Jim Phillips both raised questions about the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0. Aker noted that decisions regarding funded projects — Jay County is part of the eight-county East Central Indiana region that was awarded $35 million — were supposed to happen in October and have still yet to be publicly announced. 

Holdman said he will get an answer on the issue.

Blackford County resident John Bartlett, who has run against Prescott twice for District 33 state representative, asked about legislation relating health care costs in Indiana.

Holdman said legislators are “sticking to their guns” on the issue, pushing a bill that would limit non-profit hospitals in the state to charging 250% of the Medicare rate for services. He was critical of the top six non-profit hospital organizations in Indiana, saying they have $40 billion invested on Wall Street.

Jay County resident Virginia Burkey asked about changes for county hospitals, with Holdman responding that those facilities will be left alone.

Bartlett also questioned state funding for prisoners housed at county jails, noting that money to pay for those accommodations has run out for the fiscal year.

Prescott also mentioned a bill that would offer options for candidates to select a party or file as non-partisan for school board elections. (Those elections are currently entirely non-partisan.)

He noted his recent vote against a bill supporting term limits in Congress. He expressed concern that such term limits would leave the institutional knowledge in the hands of lobbyists. He added the he feels voting serves as the term limit.