CROWN POINT, Indiana — Lake County officials are urging a cautious approach to new spending despite an expected windfall from a new income tax.
The cash-strapped county expects to receive about $15 million from the tax next year, but it is still dealing with $121 million in long-term debt. A drop in revenue because of the state's elimination of the inheritance tax, higher health care and pension costs and a looming deadline to equip a new consolidated E-911 network also will take a chunk out of the windfall.
Councilman David Hamm tells The Times in Munster (http://bit.ly/10NWdDT ) that any spending spree would send the wrong message to the public. He wants the county to pay down its debt first.
The county's debt won't be repaid until at least 2028.
Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com
