The Marshall County Council members considered support toward a joint resolution with the Marshall County Commissioners last week that would direct use of the Special Local Income Tax (LIT) Funds.
The resolution outlines the support of the Marshall County Council and the Marshall County Commissioners to apply excess funds from Special LIT collected for jail bonds to be applied to continuing jail operations at the Marshall County Correctional Facility. The Special LIT was established to provide funding for the construction of the Marshall County Correctional Facility and some of the proceeds in excess of repayment of the bonds have been applied to the operations at the jail.
The resolution also asks the Indiana General Assembly to clarify that action and that a copy of the resolution be submitted to the Indiana General Assembly to assist in legislation to properly apply proceeds from Special LIT to keep funds as part of the Marshall County Correctional Facility operations.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer said this has been discussed for several years. When it was first enacted as the CAGIT Fund, the legislation states that when the bonds are paid off the money would go to the Marshall County Highway Department.
“As things have transpired over the years, and as you all know as council members, how much money we have to take out of this Special LIT to help facilitate operations out at the jail,” commented Overmyer. “I believe you folks probably take one million dollars, or close to a million, every year for jail expenses. For us not to have that we’d have to back into our General Fund budget and there would have to be drastic cuts made.”
Overmyer added that Representative Jack Jordan said a joint resolution would be the best procedure to take to the State Legislature.
Marshall County Council member Jon Van Vactor commented that the time is now to make sure that the jail is properly funded and this is a way that it can be done. It is important that the current fiscal body and the executive board show support toward the joint resolution.
All of the council members agreed and the joint resolution was approved with a unanimous vote. The commissioners are expected to review the resolution during their meeting this (Monday, December 21) morning.
