Council hears testimony for proposed 0.1% local income tax to fund correctional facilities

Tippecanoe County Council held a public hearing on May 12 over proposed Ordinance 2026-14-CL to raise the county Local Income Tax by 0.1 percentage point to fund correctional facilities and related public-safety capital.

Councilmember Ben Murray and Auditor Jennifer Weston presented background material showing the county’s existing LIT rate at 1.28 percent and a proposed 1.38 percent rate (including property tax relief), with projected revenue of roughly $6.3 million in 2027 under current formulas. Murray said the timeline for adoption would allow readings and public input this summer with potential effective dates tied to specific adoption windows in 2026 and 2027.

During public comment Judge Faith Graham of Juvenile Court urged council members to account for rising local costs associated with juvenile arrestees and changes in how juveniles charged as adults are managed. Judge Graham described past shifts that reduced county costs for Department of Corrections placements but noted recent legal changes and a shortage of placements have increased local expenses, saying, “Only dangerous kids are sent to these facilities and firearm usage amongst juveniles is increasing.” She said the county is already spending a large portion of its juvenile budget and that average secure‑detention populations range from about five to 15 youths, with longer stays for higher‑risk cases.

Supporters in the public hearing — including Youth Services Executive Director Rebecca Humphrey and Sheriff Goldsmith — urged local investment in juvenile detention capacity and services to keep youth connected to family, education and programming. Humphrey warned that disconnecting youth from school and family can undermine return to the community. Several residents, including Frank Hannan and Joe Sturm, expressed qualified support for funding public safety while urging careful budgeting; Sturm said the priority of government should be to protect citizens and he could support a targeted tax increase for that purpose.

Opposing viewpoints included a call from Wabash Township Trustee Angel Valentin to consider a broader countywide funding strategy rather than focusing narrowly on one tax rate.

Why it matters: County officials say the proposed 0.1% LIT increase would provide dedicated capital funding for correctional facilities at a time when county public-safety costs and juvenile placement expenses are rising. The council did not vote on the ordinance; members signaled they prefer an August–October timeline to allow public outreach and additional analysis.

What’s next: Councilmember Murray and staff recommended a public-feedback period over the summer and a possible introduction and readings to meet implementation windows; no formal vote occurred on May 12. Attorney Doug Masson reiterated that the ordinance could be introduced and finalized within the proposed timeline with readings and effective dates tied to statutory windows.