Talking taxes

Tis budget season in Indiana, and in Wells County, government officials are celebrating by passing and introducing budgets. The Northern Wells school board and Wells County Council passed their budgets Tuesday, Oct. 4, and the Bluffton Common Council passed the city budget on the first reading. To learn more about the budgets, see the Wednesday, Oct. 5, News-Banner.

The state's Department of Local Government Finance will ultimately approve these budgets, and because of this the DLGF has a wealth of tax-related information for taxpayers wanting to learn more.

For a profile of Wells County's income tax and property tax profile, click here.
For a summary of who pays and who spends taxes in Wells County, click here.
To learn more about income taxes in the state, click here.
For more information about property taxes, click here.

Sentencing for murder

Now that a jury has found Tyler White, 29, of Bluffton, guilty of murdering his estranged wife, Amy, the judge will sentence him at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.

Because he killed his wife while she was pregnant, he could also receive "enhanced sentencing" for the termination of a pregnancy.

In making his decision, the judge will follow Indiana code 35-50-2-3.

Sec. 3. (a) A person who commits murder shall be imprisoned for a fixed term of between forty-five (45) and sixty-five (65) years, with the advisory sentence being fifty-five (55) years. In addition, the person may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person who was:
(1) at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time the murder was committed may be sentenced to:
(A) death; or
(B) life imprisonment without parole; and
(2) at least sixteen (16) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age at the time the murder was committed may be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole;
under section 9 of this chapter unless a court determines under IC 35-36-9 that the person is an individual with mental retardation.

According to the prosecutor's office, there is no possibility that Tyler White will get life without parole because his case didn't meet the circumstances that would make him eligible. Also prosecutors must make it known before the trial that they are pursuing such a sentence. The Indiana code explaining the circumstances behind that can be found here. Scroll down to the section titled "Death penalty sentencing procedure."

Fire Prevention starts Sunday, Oct. 9

Within about a week, two house fires ignited in Bluffton, one in which a 12-year-old girl was by herself. In both cases, no one was hurt.

Starting next week, then, the National Fire Protection Association is holding Fire Prevention Week. To learn more, go to Fire Prevention Week's website.

N-B Video — House fire on South Indiana Street

Bluffton firefighters were called to a house fire at 537 S. Indiana St. at about 1:30 a.m. this morning. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, and no one was hurt. Learn more in the Monday, September 26, News-Banner. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: How to move a bride — in one piece

Contractors remove the existing bridge over the Salamonie River on 900s on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 22. Because it is a historic structure, the county must retain the bridge for 15 years or until someone claims it. Because of this, contractors had to move the bridge while keeping it intact. Learn more in the Friday, Sept. 23, News-Banner. (Video by Frank Shanly)

Possible projects in the Northern Wells district.

The Northern Wells school board approved a list of tentative plans for its capital projects fund. To learn more about the capital projects budget, see the Wednesday, Sept. 21, News-Banner. To learn more about the specific projects, contact Northern Wells Superintendent Scott Mills at 260-622-4125.

Year/School CPF project Cost

2012 OES Roof recoating $325,000.00 

2012 OES Light fixtures $10,000.00

2012 OES Classroom $15,000.00

2012 OES New circuit and board $15,000.00

2012 OES Water Softener $3,000.00

2012 OES Restripe parking lot $2,500.00

2012 OES Brick wall replacement loading dock $5,000.00

                Andover Energy & security

2012 OES management system $10,000.00

2012 LES General Painting $18,000.00 

2012 LES expansion joint $2,500.00

2012 LES Restripe parking lot $3,500.00

2012 NMS Restroom upgrade $30,000.00 

2012 NMS Painting & Carpet $24,000.00

2012 NMS Security cameras $15,000.00

2012 NMS Light fixtures $10,000.00

                 Andover Energy & security

2012 NMS management system $10,000.00

2012 NHS Re-seal 2 gym floors $7,500.00 

2012 NHS Restroom remodel $35,000

2012 NHS AC Power upgrade $35,000.00

                Andover Energy & security

2012 NHS management system $10,000.00

2012 NHS Restripe parking lot $7,500.00

2012 CO         Parking lot repair $150,000.00

Future projects

2013 NHS Update Kitchen $1,600,000.00

2013 NHS Auditorium remodeling $650,000.00

2013 NHS Restroom remodel $35,000.00

2013 NHS South gymn doors $30,000.00

2013 NHS Painting and carpeting $24,000.00

2013 NHS Building security camera $15,000.00

2013 NHS Lighting efficiency $10,000.00

2013 NHS Replace all drinking fountain cooler $10,000.00

2013 NHS Parking lot reseal and restripe

2013 NMS Pool filtering and pump system $150,000.00

2013 NMS Painting and Carpet $24,000.00

2013 NMS Lighting fixtures to T-8’s $15,000.00

2013 NMS Security cameras $15,000.00

2013 OES EFIS Moisture repair $75,000.00

2013 OES Classroom $15,000.00

2013 OES Security cameras $15,000.00

2013 OES Sidewalk repair $15,000.00

2013 OES Lighting fixtures to T-8’s $10,000.00

2013 OES Re-key building $3,000.00

2014 CO Re-coat roof $20,000.00

2014 LES Gas fired boiler to aid Geo loop $30,000.00

2014 LES Reseal gym floor

2014 LES Reseal parking lot

2014 NHS N&W sidewalk replace $75,000.00

2014 NHS Domestic Hot water storage tanks $50,000.00

2014 NHS Replace all hot water lines $25,000.00

2014 NHS Re-key building

2014 NMS Girls Locker room remodeling $60,000.00

2014 NMS Painting and Carpet $24,000.00

2014 NMS Lighting fixtures to T-8’s $15,000.00

2014 NMS Security cameras $15,000.00

2014 OES Air cooled condensing unit $185,000.00

                Heating hot water system

2014 OES renovation $150,000.00

2014 OES Student lockers in hallways $150,000.00

2014 OES Ductwork and fittings $35,000.00

2015 OES South Parking lot resurface $80,000.00

2023 NMS Exterior wall system replacement $680,000.00

2023 NMS Air handling units $235,000.00

2023 NMS Window Repair and replacement $185,000.00

2023 NMS Interior wal system $175,000.00

2023 NMS VAV boxes $175,000.00

2023 NMS Music room acoustics $65,000.00

2023 NMS Music instrument storage $48,000.00

2023 NMS Gym bleachers upper level $32,000.00

2023 NMS Exhaust fans $15,000.00

Where the money goes

On Friday, Sept. 16, Wells County's schools officially counted the number of enrolled students. School officials will now review the numbers for accuracy and eventually submit them to the state to help determine how much tuition support the schools receive from state tax revenue. To learn more about how many students are enrolled in Wells County's three public districts — and how states determine how much funding schools receive — see the Tuesday, Sept. 20, News-Banner.

The state makes available how public schools spent their revenue, broken down by categories such as "student academic achievement," "school administration," and more. The following graphs show how Wells' public schools used their revenue from January to December 2009 and January to December 2010.

Northern Wells Community School

Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District

Southern Wells Community Schools

Click on the following links for more detailed reports for each school.

• Northern Wells
• Bluffton-Harrison
• Southern Wells