THE FOLLOWING STORY IS BY BILL PICKETT
Vermilion County Board members have placed their proposed new budget and tax levy for fiscal year 2025-26 on public display. The county’s proposed new tax rate is 1.538 compared to 1.583 for the current fiscal year. (The amount is $1.54 per one-hundred dollars of equalized assessed value compared to $1.58 per one-hundred dollars of equalized assessed value for the current fiscal year.)
During Tuesday night’s county board meeting Todd Castleberry, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission in Vermilion County, said that group will not be collecting from the county this year…
AUDIO: Because we have a surplus in our bank, we have forgone the .02% on the tax levy. So, I just wanted to make all residents of Vermilion County aware that we will not be collecting that fee this year.
Castleberry added the Veterans Assistance Commission is working hard to improve its service to veterans. The Commission operates independently from county government even though it receives funding from county real estate taxes. It had been scheduled to receive $265,700 during the next fiscal year. Recently there has been criticism of the Veterans Assistance Commission after it was revealed that over $450-thousand dollars designated to help area veterans has gone unspent over the last four years. Jerry Hawker, chairman of the County Board’s Finance Committee, said only $8,800 had been given in direct aid to veterans this past year, and only $8,000 the previous year – even though hundreds of thousands of dollars were available.
The proposed budget which was placed on public display by the county board totals over $58.5 million dollars with revenues estimated at $52.8 million dollars. The figures are expected to change due to negotiations which are currently underway with four unions which represent some county employees, plus pay hikes that have not been included yet for non-union employees. Final action on the budget and tax levy is expected when the board meets in November. The new fiscal year begins December 1st, 2025.
ALSO AT VERMILION COUNTY BOARD MEETING:
The Vermilion County Board has hired an Indianapolis-based consulting firm to help with some building improvements. Professional Services Design, LLC will oversee design work and bid specifications while reaching out seeking to get more contractors involved in the work.
The projects include tuckpointing at the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse and Joseph G. Cannon Building. Tuckpointing is also slated at the county maintenance building on Hazel Street. Professional Services Design, LLC will also design plans for upgrades to the elevator in the Joseph G. Cannon Building.
