Straw poll shows how county council may vote on LOIT tax

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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Straw poll shows how county council may vote on LOIT tax

Constituents gather to listen and give their opinion at last Thursday's Common Council meeting in South Bend. (WSBT Photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 14, 2008 at 9:55 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 14, 2008 at 10:40 PM EST

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Some St. Joseph County Council members say voting on the local option income tax is one of the toughest decisions they've ever had to make. The long anticipated vote is expected to happen Monday night. WSBT asked the councilmen how they plan to vote.

South Bend's Common Council already approved the boost in Local Option Income Tax, or LOIT, along with a new "public safety tax." If the County Council does the same tomorrow, taxes across the county will go up by three quarters of a percent in 2009.

"It's a hard choice," said councilman Kevin Kubsch of Monday's vote.

But others say they're planning to vote down the 3/4 of a percent local option income tax increase and "public safety tax."

"I think it's a bailout for South Bend," said County Councilman Dennis Schafer. "They kept saying 'We can wait until after the first of the year, see what the state's going to do. And then, we can make changes.' Then all at once we get hit with this."

Schafer told WSBT he will vote "No" to the increase. Dale DeVon and Mark Root also said they plan to vote it down.

But Councilmen Mark Catanzarite, Mike Kruk, Kevin Kubsch, Randy Przybysz and Heath Weaver said they're still undecided.

"I believe it's truly going to be listening to everyone speak [at Monday night's meeting], said Councilman Kubsch.

Council President Rafael Morton didn't return our phone calls Sunday. But Dennis Schafer said Morton and the county Auditor sent an e-mail to all county department heads — requesting them to attend Monday's meeting along with their employees "in support of the LOIT resolution."

Here's how a new tax increase would impact you —

If you earn $35,000 a year, you'll pay $262 more each year.

That comes out to $22 a month and $5.05 each week.

Losing $5 means renting one less movie every week, taking one less trip to the tanning bed, and ordering one less Jimmy John's sandwich.

"When you figure down in dollars, it does make a difference," said Dennis Schafer.

"It's the first thing you think about in the morning, and it's the last thing you think about at night. At least for me," said Kevin Kubsch.

If the County Council approves the measure Monday night, the tax hike would take effect January 1.

Mishawaka would also benefit from the tax, but Mayor Jeff Rea and several council members say they're against any tax increase. They could even go on the record about it tomorrow night. Mishawaka City Council member Dave Wood plans to present an ordinance to the council saying they do not support a tax hike.

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