Columbus city officials have given initial approval to use $2 million in local income tax revenues for public safety capital projects this year.
The city plans to use the money, already in its budget, to pay for in-car cameras, computers and radios for the Columbus Police Department, finance director Jamie Brinegar told Columbus City Council members. Additionally, income tax revenues will go toward a training facility for the Columbus Fire Department, he said.
The City Council gave unanimous approval Tuesday to appropriate the money in a fund designated for public safety needs. However, it must be approved a second time to become effective.
The Bartholomew County Council passed a 40 percent hike in the county’s local income tax last fall, resulting in the tax rate increasing from 1.25 percent to 1.75 percent, which took effect in January.
The city of Columbus expects to collect $6.2 million in local income taxes this year, half of which must be spent on public safety, Brinegar said. The other half of the funding can be used for other purposes by the city, he said.
Public safety needs typically have been paid using economic development income tax and general fund monies, Brinegar said. The city has not yet made a determination how it intends to spend the remaining $1.1 million dedicated for public safety, he said.
The city currently has $750,000 in local income tax proceeds that will be placed in a public safety non-reverting fund, meaning the funds can only be spent on public safety, said Luann Welmer, the city’s clerk-treasurer. The council gave final approval to an ordinance Tuesday establishing the public safety non-reverting fund.
The fire department’s training facility will be constructed on Verhulst Street on the Columbus Municipal Airpark campus. It will be used for simulation exercises and have classroom space available.
The shell of the building is expected to be in place by mid to late summer, Fire Chief Mike Compton said. In January, the Columbus Board of Works agreed to hire Building Concepts of Indiana Inc. for $273,825 to construct the shell of the training facility.
A groundbreaking on the project is set to occur next week, Compton said.
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A final reading of an ordinance to appropriate $2 million in local income taxes for public safety capital projects will take place at the next Columbus City Council meeting at 6 p.m. April 3. The meetings are at Columbus City Hall, 123 Washington St.
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