Council discusses forming MUST group to study local income tax; at least one member opposes LIT

County leaders described a potential MUST committee — a multi‑jurisdiction working group — to study the prospects of a county local income tax (LIT) and other revenue options following state property tax changes. The Chair said the committee would gather township trustees, town and city representatives, county commissioners and others to study options without committing the county to action.

Speaker 3, a council member, said he objected to pursuing a local income tax. “I am not gonna support a local income tax,” Speaker 3 said, adding that he was not willing to participate in that effort. The Chair said he was not committing the council to any immediate tax increase and that the MUST would simply bring stakeholders together to discuss options and gather information.

Council members discussed volunteers to staff the MUST and suggested a small number of council members and trustees could participate; they asked staff to coordinate outreach and to bring an outline or agenda to the next meeting for further discussion. No formal vote or decision to form the group occurred at the Sept. 18 discussion.