“IS IT TRUE” FEBRUARY 17, 2020

We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?

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IS IT TRUE that some of the “FRONT DOOR PRIDE” homes built for people with moderate income living in the Haynie’s Corner area before Mayor Winnecke took office were hard to sell because of the inflated sale price, homes costs around $250,000 to build, and high-interest rates during that time? …if our memory serves us correctly the majority of the “FRONT DOOR PRIDE” homes located in the Haynie’s Corner area had to be leased in order to keep them from continuing to be vacant for a long period of time?

IS IT TRUE recently the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and Evansville City Council passed “minimum square footage” housing ordinance? …this approval was well received by many local residents who want to live in “tiny homes” because of the extremely reasonable costs to build?  …we are told that several highly successful Realtors in Vanderburgh County proper are upset about this the “tiny homes” ordinance being approved because it will take away from their bottom line?  …we predict that the less than moderate-income residents living in the Jimtown and North Main Street areas will be able to afford to build one of these homes in this area? …we give five cheers (5) to our locally elected officials for making a ‘Good Public Policy’ decision?

IS IT TRUE the unit of government with the largest population in every county currently rule how “Local Income Tax” monies are allocated?  …in Vanderburgh County, the Mayor of Evansville has the final say in the allocation of LIT monies for the whole county because Evansville has the most population?

IS IT TRUE that “Local Income Taxes” have been the go-to option (other than property taxes) for increasing local revenue due to tax caps?  …that the “Local Income Taxes” is levied on a percentage of the income of working residents and non-residents who work in the county?  …this known as a ‘Regressive Tax”?

IS IT TRUE recently HB 1065 was passed out of the House and is scheduled to be discussed Tuesday, the 18th, at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate’s powerful “Tax and Fiscal Policy” Committee? …we highly recommend that you contact your local State Senators to discuss this “Taxation Without Representation” issue right away before its voted on in the Senate’s  “Tax and Fiscal Policy” Committee?

IS IT TRUE members of the Evansville City Council are the stewards of the public trust and should start acting like it? …it’s time that the taxpayers of Evansville demand that a public dialogue begin between City Council members, City Controller Russ Lloyd, Jr., CPA and Mayor Winnecke concerning the real financial status of the Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville has one of the most charismatic and hard-working Mayors in years?  …Mr. Winnecke is also very personable and likable? …we wish that he would put more focus on budgetary issues and stop going along with every capital project that comes along?  …that Mr. Winnecke has a lot of talented people that surround him and he should start seeking their advice before he agrees to invest money on big-ticket items?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that the Vanderburgh County Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioner races are heating up?

IS IT TRUE we expect that the most current State Board Of Accounts audit of the City Of Evansville will be released at the end of this month?  …we are told that the findings of the questionable cost and non-compliance issues listed in this audit will be interesting?

IS IT TRUE we are also told that the practice of not posting unrecorded accounts payable in a timely manner will soon be coming to an end?  …that Finra and the SEC are requiring cities with populations greater than 100k to submit the year-end financial report to the State Board of Accounts by using the accrual method of accounting starting in 2020?  … that the good news is that it looks like the City Controller of Evansville will be required to record unpaid bills at years end even if they are have not been paid?