From the Northwest Indiana Times:
If residents have ideas that could generate funding to increase Merrillville's police force, town leaders want to hear them.
Clerk-Treasurer Eugene Guernsey, Town Councilwoman Carol Miano and Councilman Don Spann will have a 5 p.m. meeting May 29 to continue discussions about efforts to hire 10 more police officers in Merrillville. The meeting will be at Town Hall, 7820 Broadway.
Guernsey, Miano and Spann have proposed a referendum that would ask Merrillville voters if they would raise their property taxes to support a staff increase in the Police Department, and they also encourage residents to attend the May 29 meeting to provide their suggestions to address the short-staffed Police Department.
Town leaders said Merrillville doesn't have enough funding available to boost the Police Department's staff.
Guernsey said a property tax increase is the "only way we know how to do it."
For the owner of a home assessed at $150,000, property taxes would increase by about $53 a year if the increase is approved, according to town officials.
The referendum could be on the ballot in November.
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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/merrillville/may-meeting-to-discuss-tax-hike-to-increase-police-staffing/article_85c7e5e7-3926-5760-8b6a-20e59bfc6e74.html
