[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6174653,"mediaKeyId","5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67","parentId",5369699,"title","Council members push back on narrative blaming local government for property-tax rises after Senate Bill 1","audioSeconds",520,"startMs",1009000,"endMs",1529000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67&start=1009&end=1529","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6174653/Lake-County/Indiana/Council-members-push-back-on-narrative-blaming-local-government-for-property-tax-rises-after-Senate-Bill-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174653-895b46ce0b8e8a9501e41ca7ded44820/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448280&Signature=hjnN3XrpcfEPJ6D1YBQ~x0bxnkcsw3hpvisuZuEk7YzPLKLbd9hPqjy8uLpQrXW2Rh6JYIzviwrk2r17QcLleKmjaHmsaBfncOVJRXiJ1AYBeK-qALzVqHJGUOV4iHmrJE9dxWzo~8Mn8eepxHQBytzJr4wLL-y0XdXI0VkRw5Sg-FjDnyWSuXveiYFEq1WnOmWYtVl4QS7~PzerNnqe8SO9I6cvc9B-9tTUfk1UqbpnVaDWOSSywpun2et0q5AqIAUjItqRlyyXi3syguuB6preZ97v7b0W6a1-nPX0O3p0f0t9tNg-Ccn24W-54Ku2fmGrrghLuOGvIEnlCjN~~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lake County IN","date","2025-07-12T03:04:53.817Z","article","Several Lake County Council members used the meeting to dispute a narrative circulating after the passage of Senate Bill 1 that local governments are to blame for steep property-tax increases.

Council members — including long-serving officials and party leaders — said the claim that local units caused 50–60% increases is inaccurate. One member described the narrative as \"completely false\" and said local levies rose about 22% over five years, and that broader inflation and assessment formulas drove greater tax bills for homeowners.

Speakers emphasized the limits of local authority and asked for clearer public communication. One council member said, \"22% doesn't equal 50 to 60% in any math,\" and blamed federal-level spending that contributed to inflation, alongside flaws in the property-assessment system for commercial properties. Another council member noted Lake County previously operated under a frozen levy, returned tax increments to taxpayers when a TIF district closed on Route 51 and undertook department cuts and layoffs when needed.

Several members called for a more deliberative reform process rather than a rapid statutory change: \"If we wanna reform a system, I don't think you do it in a 4-month period. You take several summer study sessions,\" one council member said, urging lawmakers to examine assessment formulas and the effect of exemptions and thresholds.

Council leaders thanked county staff and local legislators who engaged with the council. One speaker singled out a state senator who voted against Senate Bill 1 and thanked him for that stance. Another council member — who chairs a local party apparatus — said he will work with legislators on a deeper review of assessment and levy policy.

Discussion only: these remarks constituted council comment and direction to pursue further engagement with state legislators and analyses. No formal policy changes or motions were adopted during this discussion.

Clarifying details: the council speakers repeatedly referenced a 22% levy increase over five years as the locally authorized levy change and cited a perceived broader increase in assessed tax bills driven by assessment formulas, inflation beginning about 2020–21, and specific assessment-related laws including a referenced House Bill 1001 and taxing-obsolescence provisions for large industrial taxpayers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Meeting - May 13, 2025 (Live Stream)","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple council members condemned a narrative that local governments are solely responsible for recent property-tax increases, citing inflation, assessment mechanics and state-level decisions as drivers and vowing to pursue deeper reform work.","taxTitle","Lake County, Indiana","taxId",4585,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174658,"Council reappoints library board members and names regional-development authority appointee",149,796000,945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67&start=796&end=945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67/thumbnail_796000.jpg","/articles/6174658/Lake-County/Indiana/Council-reappoints-library-board-members-and-names-regional-development-authority-appointee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174658-36a196da8fb20ff2dd0dc032dad54a7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448280&Signature=TNnfH1G~0IioxhNvVuD52~3G9Ab057-71NiTzSlxYcM6dwvQcuiOqWz9kM7sMx3A9fNB0t8x7he1y4d1Z85wKyTrkcXz8BU8WG0EZLHxbRgsewtw0vXkp8X7AI7dzVj5ooBH2gx-3YDfYo~cR-r-lPE3eL-8ueyvFpITtG1e5YWI7YfMp3xo0uwpD3R9WR633BXJi55SK~sTm7S294ZDt8Bz0u5mgC5w8sEEO-6v7JJtO3bqrLC-SHnBo9uDF4DD4rpt59d3-blyVirs69l2GsLECktayWfaID7ahZ3HxqOLDLXEpmDEe5QXrBYwXReweadCrmL6ps3mJLLEQ6LbmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake County Council opened and closed nominations for several board appointments and confirmed the nominees during the meeting.

Library appointments: Council members nominated and reappointed Robert Farrick to the Gary Public Library Board for a four-year term and reappointed Tom Novak as a library-board member and president for the City of Hammond. Novak described recent library initiatives — including a book-and-DVD vending machine pilot, a new app for student tablets and expanded programming — and invited the public to a Juneteenth event on June 15.

Regional Development Authority: The council nominated and appointed an RDA representative. A council member nominated Randy Palmetir; after the roll call and related statements the chair declared \"Annie Palmetir\" as the appointee to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. The appointee thanked the council and described recent regional projects, including South Shore double-tracking and related development.

Decisions: the nominations and appointments were approved with no recorded opposing votes. Implementation: appointees will assume or continue duties as members of the named boards; no compensation or term-start dates were read into the record beyond the four-year term noted for the Gary appointment.

Clarifying notes: the transcript contains inconsistent references to the RDA nominee (Randy Palmetir nominated; \"Annie Palmetir\" declared appointed). The meeting record did not include written nomination forms in the audio record nor did it include term-start dates beyond the four-year term for the Gary library board seat in the discussion.","The council confirmed reappointments to local library boards and appointed a representative to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority during the meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174663,"Council approves interlocal agreement with Cedar Creek Township for roof repairs",40,746000,786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67&start=746&end=786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67/thumbnail_746000.jpg","/articles/6174663/Lake-County/Indiana/Council-approves-interlocal-agreement-with-Cedar-Creek-Township-for-roof-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174663-aaf58a400de6127b4548d5f6605ab736/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448280&Signature=X33Rq6~1KK5x7YOaVVBbp6LlNOTAVheRzvRFzpJHw~CP5p-W7HKg8EzzpfMJY~PfMO2L5Ha8IGHohnpGimryx2465pvKQaPlQRCX0hECaMZCgB39fKap46z9RpRROMCMcH1Hb2s5TJeNv3YPpU4RbrusUsOedy8GbVIrQLQ5F6Egi2bwz5kj-RNUD2s91-~nnZwFO6NNTc4O5wXa4ysnWhMgBSq9uXJ6Wcy87KgQfITSUT9K7i1jPNZ8braDBLDEzN880QxdGSfdoItZ9zH0RshcwWARQ1Yt68XmCBuf8d32yWKbwe8DHaJf6MvDp3M-SJiUPsecZq5qeyFicnt8qA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake County Council voted unanimously to enter an interlocal government agreement with Cedar Creek Township to undertake roof repairs on a township facility. The motion was made, seconded and approved by roll call, 7-0.

Council discussion on the item was brief; the motion passed without recorded amendments. The agreement was presented as a local-government collaboration—council members recorded approvable consent and asked no substantive questions during the recorded discussion.

Decision: interlocal agreement approved 7-0. Implementation: county staff will execute the interlocal agreement and proceed with procurement or contracting as required by county procedures.

Clarifying details: the motion was described verbally as an interlocal governmental agreement joining Cedar Creek Township and Lake County for roof repairs; no dollar amounts or contract vendors were read into the record during the meeting.","The Lake County Council voted to join an interlocal government agreement with Cedar Creek Township for roof repairs, approving the resolution unanimously.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174668,"Council creates new maintenance line item and moves $5,000 within CARES Act CDBG-CV fund",103,667000,770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67&start=667&end=770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67/thumbnail_667000.jpg","/articles/6174668/Lake-County/Indiana/Council-creates-new-maintenance-line-item-and-moves-5000-within-CARES-Act-CDBG-CV-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174668-8c73630aa4d5944605797aba58067a80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448280&Signature=cA8-AVGpNG-fXBMwOw5iPku1EbXP7kanM~KzbQGM0EmcrVROFQCtorMQBSx77z4f6qz4KM1Pt-etI1V262J6NQNWKj7eFRVaZL4ZzNlPQBR2qkvQgDT~MJwajH2rSWQufl7pvdaeQ9NLkUxdqIL9w3uu-Fs3ZnyJP-sXxU7pDP9D4UB0XaPTdYUvraryRJm5Hov8PKJF47fT8xR7hrJASmWYiSGHnFqUlYfZrBNrWiJVs0KFMfclpQhrI9Z7i7~FIA3tm-UgfO2VrCEOOPukuZo50W8NYThZysZEGIfCIOb83srmLCFIPbOlN~yMtB0yAI-xPGHEeWPVMLas0aq8Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake County Council unanimously approved two budget actions: creating a new general-fund line item for maintenance and service contracts, and transferring $5,000 within the CARES Act Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) fund to cover building supplies.

Council members voted to add a line in the general fund (account referenced verbally as 1110001, slide 63630) for maintenance and service contracts after a motion and second were recorded and the roll call passed 7-0.

Separately the council moved $5,000 from one CDBG-CV line (64220 Building, Complete) and transferred that amount to account 62400 (supplies) to cover building supplies; the motion passed by voice vote, 7-0.

Discussion: no substantive debate was recorded on either item. Decisions: both measures passed unanimously. Implementation: county finance staff will record the new line item and execute the intra-fund transfer.

Clarifying details: the general-fund account numbers were read into the record as presented and the CDBG-CV transfer was described as $5,000 between specified line codes. No additional funding sources or offsets were identified in the meeting minutes.","The Lake County Council approved creation of a new general-fund line for maintenance and service contracts and voted to transfer $5,000 within the CARES Act CDBG-CV fund to cover building supplies.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174673,"County council approves pay increase for Health First Indiana project manager as health department warns of state funding cuts",405,335000,740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67&start=335&end=740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5369699-b87f7c9e4b30991a7f250e74c05aef67/thumbnail_335000.jpg","/articles/6174673/Lake-County/Indiana/County-council-approves-pay-increase-for-Health-First-Indiana-project-manager-as-health-department-warns-of-state-funding-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174673-2a90caf7bddc65f68d610dafef5f870d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448280&Signature=WAibujW-yc0qGHdrjKDsdeHl~QlatHttBbaKVeETGJ0NPArg61CMDb2XJxqt-cM-YsrN7aYvoyX1E8B7lXU81URGHpXpQiU98q9cMMHXHdb3qHv~O-nCkuG7xsis9ZroWmLRMwts6RihUdRKFF9JQdZUvKfmUyVMW3TtV-mMG2VvGwh1yrLVpMX8JB~yRFhZTkm5Ji2nww27fqMZNwADZmIynSN74ad95EvLtIjJ2iTLnuzUiD3Ir16BleFeDrRq7Chm20teRPK4b9nqGmROm7359B63Qftwtn3sdo7DvLY9sxat6O958tyw2dojvnADTaZ3IlNvMNyVp9BNiHqQDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake County Council on a 7-0 vote approved a salary increase for the Health First Indiana project manager, raising the position from $57,750 to $72,100 effective Jan. 1, 2025. Council members approved the revision during the council's consent actions after a brief discussion about the position's duties and growing workload.

The action mattered because health department leaders told the council they are reworking staffing and program plans after a significant reduction in state local-public-health funding tied to recent state legislation and the state budget. A health department official said the department \"took a big gut punch\" when anticipated funding fell from about $9,000,000 to roughly $2,500,000 and that the agency is evaluating all options, including eliminating some planned hires and reducing subawards to partners.

That reduction, the official said, will force immediate changes to planned maternal and child health work: \"Immediately, right off the top, we had about 6 positions planned to hire this year to meet our maternal and child health KPI. We're gonna eliminate that entire program and try to find ways to either partner with others or do it in house with the staff that we currently have.\" The official added the department previously subawarded about $4 million to $5 million annually and expects that to decrease \"significantly.\"

Council members asked for more detail about the position's job description and performance measures. One council member said department requests for reclassifications or new titles rarely come with a job description or KPIs; the health department official replied, \"I'm so sorry. I should have included that. I can send it to you.\" The official described the post as a project-manager role responsible for budgeting, program development, partner relations and data analysis related to Health First Indiana, and said the incumbent \"has expanded way beyond that\" to include staff development and cross-team coordination.

Council discussion also included a suggestion to update the employee's written job description to reflect added responsibilities. The council's roll call recorded unanimous support; no member voted against the measure.

Discussion only: council members and staff described possible program eliminations, subaward reductions and cross-training to cover gaps. Direction/assignment: staff were asked to provide the job description and KPIs for the position. Formal action: salary revision approved by roll call, 7-0.

Clarifying details from the meeting: current salary $57,750; proposed salary $72,100; proposed increase $14,350; effective date cited as Jan. 1, 2025 (as read into the record). The health department official estimated prior subawards at about $4–$5 million per year and said roughly six planned maternal-and-child-health hires will be cut. The reduction in state funding was described in the meeting as a drop from about $9,000,000 to about $2,500,000.","The Lake County Council unanimously approved a salary increase for the Health First Indiana project manager and heard health department officials describe program cuts and subaward reductions tied to recent state budget changes, including Senate Bill 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council members push back on narrative blaming local government for property-tax rises after Senate Bill 1

Council reappoints library board members and names regional-development authority appointee

Council approves interlocal agreement with Cedar Creek Township for roof repairs

Council creates new maintenance line item and moves $5,000 within CARES Act CDBG-CV fund

County council approves pay increase for Health First Indiana project manager as health department warns of state funding cuts