TERRE HAUTE — Moving to a four-day work week, discontinuing employees cell phones and eliminating take-home vehicles were the main suggestions tossed out at a public hearing about county government Tuesday.
Around 50 people gathered in the Vigo County Council chambers in the County Annex to voice concerns and suggestions for the council’s next budget, which is facing a $2.6 million deficit.
Larry Davis, a taxpayer, suggested the county pay mileage instead of having take-home vehicles because then there wouldn’t be any maintenance or insurance costs. He also suggested eliminating county employees’ cell phones.
Both of his suggestions were echoed through the 11/2-hour-long forum.
There are around 200 vehicles in the county’s fleet, but it was unclear how many were used as take-homes. Members of the council stated they planned to look into the matter.
Taxpayer Linda Morris suggested having four-day work weeks, in which employees would have nine-hour days for four days instead five, eight-hour days. Having county buildings closed for the fifth day could possibly save money from energy bills.
“We don’t need to be punished by having to pay more taxes,” she said.
Taxpayer Mike Collins agreed and added he didn’t want to attend another meeting only to hear about tax increases.
Bernard Ridens, executive director of the Vigo County Taxpayers Association, pointed out the budget deficit is not the fault of the council, but was a consequence of last year’s property tax relief bill, HB 1001.
Ridens encouraged everyone to attend the next crackerbarrel session at 10 a.m. Feb. 14 in the Vigo County Public Library to let their legislators know their concerns.
“We’re going to have to work harder and smarter,” Ridens said about finding solutions to the deficit problem.
Other in attendance made it clear raising taxes or cutting jobs should not be options.
“We’re all footing the bill, and it’s not fair,” said Stacey Todd, a recorder’s office employee, “but to cut jobs is really not fair because we all have kids and we’re all trying to survive.”
Her statement was met with applause.
Councilman Darrick Scott, D-2nd, said he understood the concerns, but couldn’t make any promises.
“House Bill 1001 was nothing but a sleight of hands; you saved in property taxes, but the state raised your sales taxes,” he said, noting members of his district in West Terre Haute are paying more in taxes this year than last year and are facing possible losses of a school and a library.
“… I don’t have any easy answers,” he said. “Cell phones, take-home cars, I’ll be the first one to tell you, we will address those with the teamwork of the commissioners. They’re the ones that set policy, we’ll work together and figure this out.”
Scott said as long as things are fine for some people, they don’t care what’s going on with their neighbors and hoped to see more people attend the next meeting to become more educated on the problems the county is encountering.
“Taxpayers need to be educated that it’s not this council’s fault,” he said. “We are going to do everything we can to save jobs, save employees, but I can’t make any promises … It’s going to be one tough year.”
He also encouraged taxpayers to call the legislators who voted for the bill.
Council president Kathy Miller, D-3rd, said she was pleased with the turnout and was glad to hear some of the public’s suggestions were already things the council was looking into.
“Several of the things that were mentioned, we had already looked at,” she said, “and it was nice to hear that some of the community were thinking of the same ideas and that means we’re on the right track.”
Questions posed at the forum will be researched and answers or updates are expected to be ready for the next public forum at 6:30 on March 10, she said.
“I’m pleased with the response, the turnout, the concern from the community,” Miller said. “I look forward to seeing more people in future meetings, continue working together with the commissioners and the city government to move forward.”
Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Council presented cost-cutting ideas
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
-
MARK BENNETT: William Henry Harrison taught us how to campaign
William Henry Harrison is running for president, again.
It seems impossible, because today would be his 239th birthday, and America has never elected a deceased person to the Oval Office. -
Air National Guard cuts won’t hit 181st Intelligence Wing
The Air National Guard is taking the lion’s share of planned cuts announced last week by the U.S. Air Force. But no cuts are currently expected at Terre Haute’s 181st Intelligence Wing. In fact, the nation’s evolving defense strategy may spell growth at the local base.
-
Friends group takes over Ernie Pyle home in Dana
The western Indiana home in which renowned Hoosier journalist Ernie Pyle was born and an adjacent museum dedicated to preserving his legacy as a World War II correspondent have a new owner.
-
ISU rec center pool out of service while being repaired
Indiana State University is spending about $10,000 to repair a swimming pool at the Student Recreation Center, which opened in 2009.
-
Clinton man throws away, then recovers, $50,000 ticket
A Vermillion County man found himself in a scenario that strikes fear in the heart of Lottery players everywhere. He threw away a $50,000 winning ticket.
-
Show to feature talents of artists with disabilities
Artists whose disabilities have overshadowed their work get a chance to shine in the light of a prodigy this coming month.
-
Fort Wayne forester tells of damage
The emerald ash borer likely will cause as much as $8 million in damage to Fort Wayne’s ash trees by 2015, the city’s manager of forestry operations told a Terre Haute audience Tuesday.
-
Unclaimed assets now part of Goodwill auction site
Many of Indiana’s unclaimed assets are now on Goodwill’s online auction site, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Tuesday.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
The Pits: Israelis Spit Olives for Glory
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
ShowBiz Minute: Madonna, Beresford-Redman, Pawsc
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Absolute Lin-sanity
Hate to be Rude: Bubba Watson
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow
Halle Wants to Leave the Country
Northern Lights shine above earth
Plane makes perfect belly landing
