Council approves tax levy reduction to fund county dispatch network


CATEGORY: City Council, News

August 25, 2014 – Rob Earnshaw

The City Council on Monday passed a resolution reducing its tax levy in the amount of $1,158,871, which will be transferred to Lake County to help fund the consolidated county emergency dispatch center.

Hammond, which has already entered into the county E-911 agreement, previously used a portion of its tax levy to fund salaries and supply services for about 20 dispatch employees who were covered under the police budget.

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he hopes many of the city’s dispatchers would get hired by the county network. The Lake County Public Safety Communications Commission began interviewing prospective dispatchers earlier this month.

In other news, the council passed a resolution to appoint resident Victor Franco, a retired steelworker, to fill a vacancy on the Hammond Economic Development Commission.

A motion by 6th District Councilman Homero “Chico” Hinojosa requesting finance reports for the city’s Festival of the Lakes also moved forward.

Hinojosa’s motion requests a letter be sent to the city controller and park department asking them to provide finance reports from the 2011, 2012 and 2014 festivals.