Oh! Politically Connected!

I was thinking about the Hoosier Tradewinds tax abatement when it finally hit me: Hoosier Tradewinds is run by Andy Cook and his brother!

Big deal? Andy Cook is the mayor of Westfield.

Shame on the County Council for granting this tax abatement. My position is that tax abatements are wrong regardless of political connection. But to grant to a political figure, of the same party of all of the Council members? That's ridiculous in the audacity.

Thanks to Councilors Rick McKinney and Steven Schwartz for voting against this tax abatement.

More Information Needed

I was thinking about the tax abatements given by the County Council, and kept going back to the only one that had any opposition- the one for Hoosier Tradewinds.

It struck me as interesting that Councilor Rick McKinney was one of the two in opposition. Going back a few years, McKinney was the only County Councilor who opposed the 1% food & beverage taxes to support Lucas Oil Stadium in Marion County. He earned my respect with that vote.

So, when McKinney opposes and the majority passes, it starts to not pass the smell test. I want to look into this more, to see what it's all about.

Tax Abatements?

The minutes of the most recent County Council meeting show two things happened made me wonder how each could happen in the same meeting.

1. Auditor Dawn Coverdale discussed a forecast of tax receipts being down 8.9% over one year.
2. Tax Abatements were approved for four business properties.

I've never been a fan of tax abatements. Government shouldn't pick a select group of favorites to get a discounted rate or even have their taxes eliminated, while others pay the full load. Offer a competitive, low rate, and business will want to come to you. Abate their taxes, and they may want to leave you when the abatement period ends.

But, this when tax receipts are down? It's as if the Councilors who voted for the abatements were sleeping through Coverdale's earlier presentation.