Residents can expect part of their paycheck to go toward funding public safety operations starting Oct. 1.
The Monroe County Council formally gave its approval to a proposed income tax increase to fund public safety operations in the county, voting 6-1 in favor Tuesday night, after tabling the issue at a previous meeting.
The county council joined the Bloomington City Council and Ellettsville Town Council, which are also members of the county income tax council, in casting its vote to adopt a 0.25 percent public safety local option income tax. This means all 100 eligible votes on the income tax council are in favor of adopting the tax, and the new tax will take effect later this year.
While many agreed with having the additional income tax to address a number of public safety needs, council members were disappointed with the process.
Council member Shelli Yoder, who cast the lone “no” vote, said Tuesday’s vote by the county council was only symbolic, that the tax was really a done deal once the city council — which holds a simple majority on the income tax council with 59 of the 100 votes — supported the additional income tax.
Yoder said she is committed to making sure the county fulfills one of its most vital responsibilities, of safeguarding the public by ensuring agencies are adequately funded. “However, I feel I must vote no on this proposal tonight, to underscore my unhappiness with the general process by which this issue was developed,” she said. “We can still work together to accomplish that goal, but I would have preferred to have done the hard work prior to this vote.”