Indiana County Commissioners once again failed to pass a 2024 preliminary budget during a meeting this morning.
The proposed tax increase was reduced from 1.7 mils to 1.19 mils, which would allow a real-estate tax rate of 6.095 mils. Revenues would have come to $55,932,840 while expenditures would have come to $56,462,428. While Commissioners Chairman Mike Keith moved to approve the budget, Commissioners Robin Gorman and Sherene Hess did not offer a second.
Gorman said cutting services that are not essential, bringing businesses in and expanding businesses to expand the county’s tax base and raising taxes are three of those options to solve the budget problem, but she said the fourth would be to shut county government down at the start of the year, apart from necessary services.
Keith reminded that there are many services that cannot be cut because they are mandated by the state, like jails and children and youth services.
Hess said that the financial situation for many of the county’s citizens is dire, and she could not support a tax increase.
The next Commissioners meeting is scheduled for December 13th.
