Death or Taxes?
The Marion County townships with fire departments and no plans to consolidate do have a plan to deal with the impending shortfall due to property tax caps, it’s called raise taxes.
Pike, Wayne, Decatur, Franklin and Lawrence are facing millions in shortfalls when the property tax caps kick in fully in 2010. Although some have reserves, the slumping economy will likely mean more demand for poor relief which will eat through those savings.
Although no one will say it publicly, I hear several Trustees are considering plans to go to the state and ask for the tax caps to be raised, saying they won’t be able to provide fire protection and people will die. So these Trustees would rather see taxes go up, rather than give up their power.
Kind of gives new meaning to death and taxes.
