Published: February 09, 2008 11:44 pm            

PUBLIC EYE: Feb. 10, 2008

Daniels defensive on renters’ woes

Gov. Mitch Daniels was kind enough to stay after his Jan. 31 meeting with Kokomo-area residents to take questions one-on-one, and the Public Eye had one for him.

“Governor Daniels,” we asked, “We’ve just seen a 78 percent increase in our local income tax, in an attempt to keep property taxes low, and now the state appears likely to tack on a 17 percent increase in the state sales tax as well. We wondered why your plan didn’t propose graduating or reducing the property tax relief for the highest value properties, in order to reduce the burden of these tax increases on renters, who won’t be sharing in any of the property tax relief?”

Daniels responded by saying that a House Democrat amendment had tilted the tax relief more toward moderately priced homes, “And that’s acceptable to me.”

It is the lower-valued home owners he and the state Legislature most cared about, he said, but at the same time “I do generally believe in the same rules for all.”

He also noted that he’d proposed a 2 percent cap on property taxes for rental properties, instead of a 3 percent cap for business. That should reduce the pass-along of property taxes to renters, he said.

“So [renters] should expect their landlords to pass any savings along?” we asked.

That question didn’t sit well with the governor.

“If they don’t, don’t expect the government to bail you out,” he said, with the implication that moving is always an option. “You’re a consumer. If you don’t see a difference [in your rent], then go see why not.”

Right on

During the recent flooding, the Public Eye heard the best cellular telephone message which was provided by Dave McDowell, director of the Carroll County Emergency Management Agency.

“Hi, this is Dave McDowell. I’m pretty busy right now with the flood. Leave your name and number, and I’ll call you back.”

Waiting in the wings

During the announcement last week that Bob Hayes was seeking the Democrat Party nomination for the District 2 seat on the Howard County Board of Commissioners, several other people indicated their intention to run for office.

Bill Thompson, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker, said he plans to file this week to run for the District 3 commissioners seat against incumbent Republican Brad Bagwell.

Sonia Widland plans to run for Howard County treasurer against incumbent Republican Martha Lake and Lance Rice, owner of Scoops, intends to run for auditor against incumbent Republican Ann Wells.

Pay those fines

With the announcement this past week that the administration of Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight would waive late fees on unpaid parking tickets until March 15, the Public Eye wondered how much is owed.

According to the Kokomo Department of Development, a total of $37,360 in unpaid late fees are owed for the period covering 2005 through 2007.

Those taking advantage of the amnesty period will still have to pay the $3 fine for overtime parking in the downtown metered spots.

The city of Kokomo last year spent approximately $84,000 for labor costs and materials to enforce the downtown parking limit. At the same time the city took $62,233. Of that amount $48,361 came from meter collections and $13,862 in parking fines.

        

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