Well we Hoosiers have had a lot of changes fashioned by HB 1001 during the last legislative session. There were tax caps, savings of taxes but also a disturbing fact that perhaps most have not seen. That is what will happen to the local services we all have become so used to?

Many of our local cities and towns are wondering how they will provide services with a 15 percent cut in the revenue they can raise. From many of these top officials we have heard that many services taken for granted will not be able to be financed. I believe this is true but out of everything bad comes something good.

It's an opportunity to provide the value of service to the tax paying public. For that reason I urge all these communities and their elected officials to provide what they can and only move monies to take care of emergencies. Deficit spending to retain jobs and programs shouldn't be done. People must realize the cost of providing services and will not if deficit spending is involved in, or if we put in the state requested 1 percent option tax. It will be the accepted method of the future and it's wrong.

When I talk about services, equipment also comes into play - police officers and firefighters for safety, money to pave roads and repair potholes, upkeep of the parks, repair and replacement of public works equipment, police cars, computers, paper and printing supplies, upkeep of downtowns and neighborhoods, summer work done by students to maintain street striping and general upkeep. Add to that the cost of operating a municipality regularly, one without any emergencies. Many things like these will be delayed and put off. The excuse will be lack of money. It will be true in the majority of cases, no money to move forward.

Who will bear the brunt on people's dissatisfaction when they are told we can't do anything about that problem? It will be the locals.

In addition to what's coming we have had the delay of our tax statements for five years now with more coming. Why? Because of a fight between Indiana state government and local assessors about the value placed on properties. This may be occurring because of the difference in party affiliation but I hope not.

If we are wrong locally we ask the state to print the story in our local papers for we the public to place blame where it should be. Paying interest to operate local government only makes the matter worse and must be stopped. We, one half million people in Lake County, want this sorted out and stopped.

For years business and industry have spoken about improper taxation.

Newspapers, this one included, have run story after story of the waste in local government and one-party rule as the main culprit. At times our major office holders act as children but that's not the major cause. People just don't understand the true cost of providing service and emergencies. Lake County does not have a roof to stop the snow and rain and they must be removed.

I believe we all will get a tax education in the coming days. Get your Tums ready for your queasy stomachs.

The opinions expressed are the writer's own. Contact Ferree at thurmferree@yahoo.com.