Just one tax needed for Horizon initiative for Elkhart County scholarships

GOSHEN — Which tax is needed to fund two-year college degrees and professional certifications for all Elkhart County high school students? Either a new 1 percent food and beverage tax or a .25 percent boost in the Economic Development Income Tax.

County Commissioner Mike Yoder was one of the presenters at Monday’s introduction of the Horizon Project’s education initiative, which calls for the opportunity for students to earn an associate’s degree or professional trade certificate while still in high school. During that presentation both tax proposals were presented and news outlets reported them as being possible funding sources. They are, but Yoder said it’s an either/or thing. Just one of the taxes will be needed.

“One of these funding sources will need to be approved by County Council,” Yoder said in a message to The Goshen News. “Before they can consider the issue — the state will need to pass enabling legislation. There is some discussion that the county may already have the ability to increase EDIT — but no one has yet confirmed that to be accurate, so we are moving forward on assumption that something needs to passed at the state level.”

Yoder said Monday that the food and beverage tax would raise $2.5 to $3 million. An EDIT increase of .25 percent would raise $4 to $5 million. Yoder also said private funding would have to be found to supplement the tax support.

“The funds collected will go to the county,” Yoder wrote. “The county will establish an Education Board that will review programs and initiatives offered by the schools — as well as — coordinate the collaborative education efforts.”