If the Munster Town Council had its way, the town would operate on a $24 million budget in 2017.
It’s customary for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, which approves municipal budgets and tax rates, to peel back annual budgetary requests. Even though some cuts to Munster’s budget are likely to happen, town officials are have identified a couple of new money making options.
Factoring into the town’s 2017 budget is $500,000 in expected revenues from newly instituted vehicle taxes on Munster motorists. Following similar laws enacted in other Northwest Indiana communities, passenger vehicles and trucks under a gross weight of 11,000 pounds are now charged a $25 surtax to renew the Indiana license plate registration. The motorcycles tax is $12.50.
The $40 “wheel tax” applies to buses, recreational vehicles, farm tractors, semitrailers and trucks over 11,000 pounds. The wheels themselves are not taxed.
The council used Monday’s meeting to create a new fund to earmark the tax revenues, which are strictly intended for local road projects, according to Council President John Reed, R-1st.
Complementary to the council’s approval on first reading of the 2017 budget was its passage of a resolution to exceed its allowable tax levy in 2017 and thereby raise more revenue.
Munster took a financial hit when both Community Hospital and Franciscan Hospital won their tax appeal cases. But if the Department of Local Government Finance loosens the levy, Munster could recoup nearly $1,372,000 as a composite of all assessment appeals from 2013-15.
The town is adding to its 2017 expenditures by adding another police officer, bringing the force up to 42. The deputy chief position has been eliminated, as the Munster Police Department will now have a third lieutenant, filled by Daymon Johnson, who was promoted from sergeant.
Patricia Abbott now has the title of controller, receiving a salary and title commensurate with her responsibilities in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office. A new information technology role was also created to assist the town administration’s two IT staffers.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.