(La Porte County, IN) - A proposed new income tax in La Porte County has moved another step forward in the decision making process.

 

The La Porte County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to take a vote on the proposed tax during its regularly scheduled meeting on October 26.

 

Less than a dozen citizens showed up for a public hearing conducted prior to the decision to move forward on the proposal.

 

Kingsbury area resident Bob Garrelts, who collects Social Security payments, said his costs are going up and another tax won’t make things any easier.

 

“There’s got to be a better way,” he said.

 

Trista Hudson, a contracted financial advisor on the proposal, estimated the average wage earner would pay about $140 a year if the income tax is adopted.  She also said the proposed tax would generate close to $7 million annually to fund strictly the county government owned ambulance service.

 

The tax is being proposed to replace lost revenue from statewide property tax reductions forcing local governments to impose or at least consider adopting higher local taxes.