‘What you’re going to cut is people’: Madison County discusses property tax relief bills amid already tight budget

As state lawmakers adjust a proposal championed by Governor Mike Braun that would lower property taxes, cities and counties are facing the reality of the potentially millions of dollars they’d lose.  Braun has said there’s room in local budgets for these cuts.  As IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports, Madison County doesn’t think so.

Lisa Cannon heads the Madison County IT department.  On Tuesday night, she asked the county council to approve hiring two positions she says her department urgently needs.  She said the county has a growing need for network security, among the constant cyber attacks the department protects the county against.

“I’m coming to you, and I hate to use this word, we are desperate,” Cannon said. “We need help.”

Read More from 2016: Madison County to pay “ransomware” demand to access county files

The council said the county couldn’t afford it.

Madison County Auditor Todd Culp said it isn’t just one department that’s suffering.

The county’s budget for 2025 is estimated to total about $46 million.  Just less than half of that comes from property taxes.

Culp says losing significant property tax revenue, like Braun’s preferred tax relief plan and even an adjusted plan from the Senate, would mean layoffs.

“Essentially 70 percent of your budget has to do with your employees,” said Culp. “So if we take a cut with this $22 million from Senate Bill 1, you’re—what you’re going to cut is people.”

Read More: Delaware County Council opposes governor’s property tax relief plan

Culp clarified that he doesn’t have a problem with lowering property tax, but that the tax solution unfairly targets local governments.

“Property tax doesn’t affect state government at all. So I’d like a leader who’s willing to take cuts, and instead of just cutting other governments,” Culp said.

When questioned during a roundtable meeting about local governments who say they have no room for budget cuts, Braun said he would love to look at local budgets to make them run more efficiently.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at [email protected]