Roxy is a 5-year-old female black Lab. She is part of a number of dogs who had to be surrendered when their owners fell on hard times. She’s energetic and would enjoy an active family with daily walks! She weighs 62 lbs. Roxy is social, sweet, and has a canine friend at the shelter named Chunk. Adopt Roxy for only $100. Contact the Vanderburgh Humane Society at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
We hope that todays “IS IT TRUEâ€Â 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.
IS IT TRUE the former City Council President and Finance Chairman John Friend, CPA predicted three years ago that starting in 2018 the City of Evansville will be experiencing a major budget melt down was spot on? Â …Mr. Friend also predicts that the 2019 and 2020 Â city budget shall be financial disasters? Â …he also predicted that the only ways the city can balance future budgets are increase taxes, make major budget cuts and lay off employees?
IS IT TRUE that many people in the rural area feel that the Vanderburgh County Council members have let them down? Â …when members of the Vanderburgh County Council ran for office they promised to be open, aggressive, be a conservative voice and most of all that they would stand up for the taxpayers? Â …we wonder why not one County Council member decided not to take Mayor Lloyd Winnecke to task for quieting prodding City Council members to vote on the County Option Income Tax (COIT) without asking their approval or input?
IS IT TRUE that the taxpayers of Evansville still hasn’t any idea where Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke stands on the proposed COIT tax increase? …we hope that Mayor Winnecke will make a public statement if he’s for or against the COIT tax increase before City Council votes on this issue at tonights meeting?
IS IT TRUEÂ that our Civic Center “Moles” tell us that Mayor Winnecke decided not to mess with the “HOMESTEAD TAX CREDIT” in 2018?
IS IT TRUE that very little has been said on how Mayor Winnecke plans to pay for the Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey team operating expenses for 2018? Â …we can’t find any reference to the Thunderbolts in the proposed 2018 City operating budget? Â …we been told that some of the Thunderbolts 2018 operating expenses may have been quietly added to the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Building Authority 2018 operating budget? Â …we expect City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr to make a statement concerning this issue at tonights council meeting?
IS IT TRUE that the proposed 2018 City budget didn’t address the current $2.9 million city employees Healthcare deficit for 2017?  …that no money has been allocated in the proposed 2018 city budget to pay these deficits?  …we feel compiled to warn you that the city employees Healthcare deficit could be even higher depending on medical claims filed  before the end of this year?  … we hear that the city employees Healthcare deficit may be well over $4 million at the end of this year?
IS IT TRUE we are told that many members of the Evansville Fire and the Evansville Police Departments don’t want the city to spend a dime of the 2018 COIT tax increase towards past, current or future unpaid city employees healthcare medical claims? …we are hearing that the FOP and EPD members want the money collected from the 2018 COIT tax increase go to first responders equipment, salaries, fire trucks, police cars, retirement funds and etc?  …so far Mayor Winnecke hasn’t said how he will allocate the money from the 2018 COIT tax increase?
IS IT TRUE that the council leadership and the Mayor are promoting the proposed 2018 COIT tax increase as a “public safety” tax? …other members of council are calling it a “paying down the city employee healthcare deficit” tax?
IS IT TRUE Its guesstimated that the COIT tax increase will generate around $5 million for the city and $3 million for the county in 2018?
IS IT TRUE that City Council members Justin Elpers and John Hayden have submitted $1.8 million dollar in cuts to the proposed 2018 city budget? Â …we hear they would like to see the budget savings to be used to pay down the current unpaid city employees healthcare bills?
IS IT TRUE that City Council members Dan McGinn, Jonathan Weaver, and Missy Mosby have recommended a mere $383,000 in budget cuts for 2018? Â …they are promoting that the increase to COIT tax will fix the projected city employees Healthcare budget shortfalls for 2017 and 2018?
IS IT TRUEÂ that City Council members Justin Elpers and John Hayden have recommended budget cuts to the Penguin exhibit at the Mesker Zoo and a new construction project on the Greenway?
IS IT TRUEÂ that Missy Mosby, Dan McGinn, and Jonathan Weaver want to cut $175,000 from the proposed 2018 city budget that was set aside for improvements designed to stop further deterioration of Mesker Park Amphitheater?
IS IT TRUE we are told that three (3) City Council members didn’t submit one amendment to the proposed 2018 city budget? Â …the City Council members are: Connie Robinson (D), Dan Adams (D) and Jim Brinkmeyer (D)?
FOOTNOTE: if you want to contact members of the Evansville City Council to discuss your concerns pertaining to the proposed 2018 City budget listed below are their contact information?
1- DAN MCGINN-FINANCE CHAIRMEN
(H) 812-4796336- or dmcginn@evansville.in.gov
WARD 2 – MISSY MOSBY-PRESIDENT
(C) 812-453-6479 or mmosby@evansville.in.gov
WARD 3 – JOHN HAYDEN
(C) 812-618-2122 or jhayden@evansville.in.gov
WARD 4 – CONSTANCEROBINSON
(C) 812-204-3869 or
(H) 812-425-2372 or connie@hmrdistribution.com
WARD 5 JUSTIN ELPERS-VICE CHAIRMAN
(C) 812-454-3479 or jelpers@evansville.in.gov
WARD 6 – JIM BRINKMEYER
(C) 812-480-6909 or jbrinkmeyer@evansville.in.gov
AT- LARGE -DR. H. DAN ADAMS
(H) 812-425-4220 or (C) 812-459-4221 or drhda501@aol.com
AT-LARGE MICHELLE MERCER
(C) 812-568-5393 or mmercer@evansville.in.gov
AT-LARGE JONATHAN WEAVER
(H) 812-568-0562 or jweaver@evansville.in.gov
 FOOTNOTE: This contact lists was provided to the City County Observer by CITY CLERK LAURA WINDHORST
TAXES REDOUX
By Mark HUNTÂ CANDIDATEÂ FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE
In my earlier blog regarding federal tax reform, I advocated reducing taxes for all levels of income, reducing our current seven tax brackets to just three, eliminating the odious death tax, allowing corporate monies earned overseas to be repatriated at less than the current confiscatory rates, and increasing the access to health savings accounts for more individuals, particularly those not employed by large and complex organizations, and doubling the amount allowed for individual deductions.
I also argued the importance of maintaining deductions for charitable contributions and mortgage interest. I am very pleased that the Unified Tax Reform Framework recently announced by the Trump administration, while still short on details, seems to accomplish all of my most important desired positions. Most important is the administration’s advocacy for a change to a Territorial Tax System for our businesses working abroad. That brings the US in line with the rest of the international community, will allow businesses to invest hundreds of millions of dollars currently stashed abroad to grow businesses in this country, and eliminates an additional tier of taxes that has grossly handicapped US businesses from competing abroad.
Where I am disappointed is that the corporate rate is lowered only to 20%, not the 15% advocated earlier. That seems to be negotiating against ourselves even before we get started. There is no doubt that Schumer and Pelosi, and their Indiana main man Joe Donnelly, will argue for at least 30% rate and that capitulating to 25% even before the negotiations begins weakens the administration’s position. Also, not stated in the Framework, but allowed by their spokespersons, is that the Trump administration leaves the door open for a 4th tax rate for those very wealthy, if necessary to secure democrat votes. Rest assured, that 4th confiscatory rate will be demanded by the democrats.
Why even open the door to this gouging of the successful, when we know from past experience that the “wealthy will no doubt be defined at around $ 200,000-250,000 / year by the democrats, who never saw a tax they did not like? For some reason, the Trump plan also keeps the inheritance tax for capital gains. I am opposed to that.
The main fiscal argument that will be advanced against the proposed plan is that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)—which hasn’t been right since its inception—alleges that the proposed changes in our tax system will add an additional 4.2 billion dollars to the deficit. Senator Schumer and Representative Pelosi are already pontificating against any changes that are not revenue neutral and do not add to the deficit.
What hypocrisy! After eight years of driving our deficit to historic highs under President Obama, they have suddenly discovered the word deficit. Ignore the stench from that part of the swamp. Even though the CBO pronouncement will be proven wrong as usual, the income gained by increased profitability spawned by the tax cuts will more than offset any feared increase in the deficit.
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OCTOBER 8TH, 2017Â 
 TRISTAN WHITE INDIANA, NEWBURGH
Shish-kebabs, falafels, and babaganoush were just some of the dishes available to those attending. Since 2002, the Islamic Society of Evansville has held this food festival, with the money raised going to the Tri-State Food Bank.
Organizers say the weather did not stop people from enjoying the food festival. They say it’s an important part of the community, bringing people together.
The Vanderburgh County Surveyor will conduct a meeting on behalf of the Vanderburgh County Drainage Board on Thursday, October 12 at 8:30 am in room 318 of the Civic Center, 1 NW MLK Jr., Blvd. to discuss proposed changes to the Drainage Ordinance and receive feedback. The public is invited to attend.
INDIANAPOLIS – Below find Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s public schedule for Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Indiana University Grand Challenge Initiative Announcement
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
Indiana University President Michael McRobbie
WHAT:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Indiana University Grand Challenge Initiative Announcement
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10:30 a.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 10
WHERE:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Indiana Statehouse South Atrium
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
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