Tippecanoe County Council says slow down as it mulls opioid crisis tax

"There's a whole bunch of stuff we haven't seen the numbers yet," councilman Roland Winger said. 

At Tuesday's meeting, the council was asked if it should move forward with proposing the tax to the Tippecanoe County Income Tax Council, which consists of the county, Lafayette, West Lafayette and other towns in the county. 

Many county and city officials have asked for the tax, saying they had to hire more law enforcement officers and expand jail and courts.

Commissioner David Byers said he has talked with Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski recently. Byers said Roswarski is in favor of moving forward with the tax. 

But many council members urged caution, saying the law enforcement agencies have yet to clearly identify their needs, especially as the county will have a new sheriff by 2019.