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Board member defends La Porte finances, highlights Microsoft partnership and criticizes county during public comment
Summary
During public comment at the March 17 La Porte City Board of Public Works meeting, a board speaker said the city has an A+ bond rating, has not increased property taxes in five years and criticized La Porte County over financial missteps while promoting a Microsoft partnership for local development.
A board speaker told the La Porte City Board of Public Works during the March 17 meeting that the city has maintained sound finances and is pursuing a Microsoft partnership as part of its local economic development strategy. The speaker credited the clerk treasurer with an A+ bond rating and said the administration has not raised property tax bills in the past five years.
The speaker also criticized La Porte County, saying county officials had ‘‘bounced a check to the city for $20,000’’ and suggesting the county had failed to perform due diligence on some courthouse infrastructure needs. The speaker urged county representatives to engage publicly with city officials and to consider collaborating on projects rather than opposing development.
The remarks tied into a larger pitch for the city’s Microsoft project, which the speaker said will bring technology-sector jobs and benefits for area employees and the surrounding region. The speaker said one county commissioner declined to participate and another declined a meeting, prompting the city to turn to the school system for a 15 percent participation element.
The board did not take formal action on those remarks; they were part of the public-comment period. Clerk treasurer reports presented later in the meeting showed routine payroll and claims approvals and other financial business the board approved by voice vote.
