(A) Funding. The County Council hereby finds and determines that revenues from the county option income tax authorized by I.C. 6-3.5-6-28 are needed in the county to fund the operation and maintenance of both the county jail and juvenile detention center.
(B) Agreement. The Council hereby covenants and agrees to freeze the part of any property tax levy imposed in the county for the operation of both the jail and juvenile detention center at the rate imposed in the year preceding the year in which a full year of additional county option income tax is certified for distribution to the county, for the term in which this section is in effect.
(C) Adoption of tax. Based upon the foregoing determination, the Howard County Council hereby adopts and imposes a county option income tax at a rate of 0.25% on the adjusted gross income of resident county taxpayers; and one-fourth of 0.25% on the adjusted gross income of the nonresident county taxpayers of the county.
(D) Jail Revenue Fund. The County Treasurer shall establish a County Jail Revenue Fund. County option income tax revenues derived from the tax rates imposed under this section shall be deposited in the County Jail Revenue Fund before making a certified distribution. This fund shall also include the frozen property tax levy determined under division (B) of this section.
(E) Uses restricted. County option income tax revenues derived from the tax rates imposed under this section:
(1) May be used only for the purposes described by statute; and
(2) May not be considered by the Department of Local Government Finance in determining the county’s maximum permissible property tax levy limit under I.C. 6-1.1-18.5.
(F) Application. This section shall apply to the imposition of the Jail COIT after September 30, 2015.
(Ord. CC-2007-12, passed 3-27-07; Am. Ord. CC-2007-26, passed 6-26-07; Am. Ord. 2015 HCCO-22, passed 7-28-15)