The city of Anderson is in shambles with a projected $8.2 million budget shortfall in 2010, and government leaders are getting nervous. They are ready to pull the trigger on a new tax with a funny name: LOIT, or Local Option Income Tax.
A bipartisan organization called Rebuild Anderson, recently released figures on what LOIT means for you and for other residents of Anderson and Madison County.
The city of Anderson is hosting an information session at City Hall, 120 East 8th Street, on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. Now is the time to let your officials know that tax hikes and new taxes are unacceptable, especially at a time when all of us are belt-tightening. Let your voice be heard before it’s too late!
Download the LOIT Alert Flyer at right and distribute to your family and friends.
The mayor of Anderson, Kris Ockomon, said last week there is “not really a way” to lay off workers. Why is furloughing city workers out of the question?
This author knows two city employees, by name, who dawdle behind their computers every day playing solitaire, forwarding joke/humor emails to friends, and checking their Facebook pages. Why are we paying for this?
Just this week, local radio personality Leland Franklin (WHBU-1240 AM), described seeing a city employee napping in a city truck while parked at Shadyside Park. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and it’s time for underutilized employees to find other employers who will appreciate and better utilize their skills.
The Herald Bulletin reported that the city can save $1 million for every 25 employees who get the pink slip. Let’s get creative and think of ways to downsize staff and upsize service.
If the Anderson City Council was so quick to defund economic development consultant Greg Winkler in 2007, then we need to start trimming the fat in other areas.
Legislators had apparently considered naming their new tax the “Standard Healthy Income Tax,” but instead opted for the term, LOIT, that best describes the liberal tendency to “loiter” (wander aimlessly) around unpopular, burdensome issues like tax hikes and increasing the size of local government. Nonetheless, it’s another instance of government helping itself to more of your hard-earned money.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
When will the elected officials in this county understand that they cannot fix problems by laying new taxes on its citizens. We are taxed enough! How do they expect to attract businesses when/if we have the 7th highest tax rate in the state. This line that the administration just found out about the shortfall is just that…a line. Muncie has know about this for almost 2 years and they have planned accordingly. They do not need to institute any new taxes. They are living within the money they have. We need serious changes in our elected officials. We at RebuildAnderson are doing our part to help hold them accountable. We will continue to do so until they listen to the people or they are replaced, at the next election, by people that are willing to listen to their constituants.
Well said, Wayne. I will definitely keep tabs on the Rebuild Anderson web site and hope to see you at City Hall tomorrow.
According to yesterdays postings in the Herald/Bulletin, the LOIT is officially on the agenda for the October city council meeting. We need as many people as possible to show up and tell the council and the mayor that we do not want this tax. Ask yourselves if it is worth your time to show up at a council meeting for a couple of hours vs pay a new tax. We need to make the effort now to keep this from passing. Show up early to ensure that you get a seat. Thanks for everyones support in defeating this tax.