The Plymouth Common Council has come out in favor of additional taxes in Marshall County to support road improvements and economic development. During a special session last week, the council passed a resolution supporting the adoption of a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT) and a County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT).
The County Commissioners have been asking for input from local communities, after a recent study predicted a $500,000 shortfall in road funding next year. When it comes to the LOHUT, County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer told the council that the proposal calls for a $25 wheel tax on each vehicle, plus a surtax for trailers. As for the CEDIT, the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation is proposing a tax of 0.25-percent. That revenue could be used for a variety of economic development purposes. In both cases, the money would be distributed to the county, as well as cities and towns.
MCEDC Executive Director Jerry Chavez says the corporation would administer the CEDIT funds, under contract with Marshall County and the local governments. “That’s one idea that we feel resonates,” he told council members. “It gives that oversight. It gives the ability for communities and the county to come together and set benchmarks, gets everybody involved in shaping what the goals are, and holds us accountable from a perspective of what are we doing with the money and how are we doing it on a regular basis.”
As the new taxes relate to road improvements, Commissioner Overmyer says the additional revenue would enable the county to apply for matching grants from the state. He says the county already has a list of roads in need of improvement, including Union Road in Donaldson, Elm Road near Bourbon, Plymouth-Goshen Trail north of U.S. 6, Fir Road between Bremen and U.S. 30, and Muckshaw Road south of Plymouth.
Among the council members expressing support for the new taxes was Shawn Grobe. “I just want to go on record that I think both of these are vital to us competing as a county,” he said. “The taxes come locally; they stay local. It’s part of workforce development and attraction, just community development. I’d just go on record, personally that this is important.”
The Plymouth Common Council passed a resolution supporting both the proposed taxes, with Gary Cook opposing the measure.
The proposed taxes are expected to be included on the agenda for the Marshall County Council’s May 9 meeting. Should the measure fail, the City of Plymouth would have the option to pass its own LOHUT, thanks to a change in rules at the state level. However, Mayor Mark Senter doesn’t see that happening anytime soon, “As bad as things are, we’re spending almost three-quarters of a million right now on city streets. That, I think, is just about right,” he said. “Now, can we use some more? Sure. But if we get beyond that, we’re going to be taking the engineering out of Rick Gaul’s hands and that is going to have to be contracted. So I can’t imagine going over a million dollars.”
Also during Wednesday’s meeting, the council gave permission to allow City Engineer Rick Gaul to apply for state funding for future improvements to Hoham Drive from Michigan Street to just west of Western Avenue. The project would include the addition of center turn lanes and improvements to the intersections at Michigan and Western. If approved, the project would be included in the Indiana Department of Transportation’s budget for fiscal year 2021. It’s estimated to cost about $3 million, with about $600,000 of that coming from the city.
The Plymouth Common Council will meet in regular session this evening. MCEDC Executive Director Jerry Chavez and a representative from Umbaugh and Associates are scheduled to appear before the council. Tonight’s common council meeting starts at 6:30 or immediately following the Board of Works meeting.
Tonight, the Plymouth Board of Works will hold a public hearing concerning action to be taken on an unsafe outbuilding located at 415 Conger Street. That meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.
