Jon "Chip" Cravens (Taxpayer Friendly)

Watchdog Lebanon Home Page Steve Jacob Watchdog Indiana Candidate Rating

Address: 1455 S. 900 E. Zionsville, IN 46077
Phone: (317) 769-3795
E-mail: chipcravens@gmail.com 
Website:

Watchdog Indiana County Council Candidate Questions - 2014 Primary Election

1. Should annual county expenditures exceed annual county revenues? BACKGROUND: See http://www.finplaneducation.net/county_financial_analysis.htm and http://www.finplaneducation.net/county_expendiitures_comparison.htm. ANSWER: I have never served in county office before, so I have a very limited history with which to draw from. My default response to tax and spending issues is No; spending should not exceed revenues. I understand that revenues were adversely affected due to the recent tax cap amendment and reserves have supplemented the loss of revenue. That being said, no, spending should not exceed revenues. The county has to adjust to the change to correct the imbalance.

2. What is an appropriate level of county cash reserves compared to the county’s annual operating budget? BACKGROUND: See http://www.finplaneducation.net/county_ccd_tax.htm. ANSWER: Unforeseen things happen; a reserve of 2 to 2.5 million I think would be a reasonable cushion.

3. Do you support a new county-wide Wheel Tax? BACKGROUND: See http://www.finplaneducation.net/wheel_tax_.htm and http://www.finplaneducation.net/transportation_funding_increases.htm. ANSWER: I refer to my previously mentioned default; No. The tax is regressive and as a result, unfair.

4. Do you support an increase in the county-wide Cumulative Capital Development property tax rate? BACKGROUND: See http://www.finplaneducation.net/county_ccd_tax.htm. ANSWER: No.

5. Do you support a new county-wide Public Safety Local Option Income Tax? BACKGROUND: See http://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/Local_Option_Income_Tax_Fact_Sheet.pdf. ANSWER: In general, no, but if I understand it correctly, this would be an income tax that directly reduces property tax. In most cases, I prefer an income tax as opposed to property tax because your property tax doesn’t change if you lose your job; your income tax would go down. It bothers me that one could own their house, free and clear, yet lose it due to property taxes doubling or tripling, and not being able to afford them.

6. Do you support the elimination of the business personal property tax for any new business equipment? BACKGROUND: Effective July 1, 2015, the county income tax council (which includes county council members) is allowed by the recently passed Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1 to adopt an ordinance to exempt from property taxation any new business personal property that is located in the county. ANSWER: Yes, but county government will need to analyze how to adjust to the loss of revenue.

7. Do you support the elimination of the business personal property tax for any business with less than $20,000 worth of equipment and machinery? BACKGROUND: Starting with the Pay 2017 property tax year, the county income tax council (which includes county council members) is allowed by the recently passed Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1 to adopt an ordinance providing that if the acquisition cost of a taxpayer's business personal property is less than $20,000: (a) the taxpayer is not required to file a personal property return for the taxpayer's business personal property; and (b) the taxpayer's business personal property is exempt from taxation. ANSWER: Yes, but county government will need to analyze how to adjust to the loss of revenue.

8. Should county department heads and elected officials obtain approval from the County Council before making offers of employment to fill full-time employment vacancies? BACKGROUND: http://www.finplaneducation.net/boone_county_employment.htm. ANSWER: Department heads and elected officials should be responsible for their own budget. If they fail in that duty, they should be replaced.

9. Should the county help pay for road projects within the municipal limits of the county’s cities and towns, or should county dollars be dedicated to road improvements and maintenance within the unincorporated areas of the county? ANSWER: The roads Boone County is responsible for, due either to boundaries or inter-local agreements, should be maintained and paid for with county funds. All bridges are the responsibility of the county, regardless of municipal boundaries.

10. Is the Boone County Area Comprehensive Plan a good road map for future growth that also preserves agriculture as an economic development industry? BACKGROUND: See http://www.boonecounty.in.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=65. ANSWER: Yes.

11. Should the individual votes of County Council members be recorded in meeting minutes so the members can be held accountable for their public policy decisions? ANSWER: Yes.

12. Should upcoming County Council board appointments be announced ahead of time so interested citizens can apply? BACKGROUND: See http://www.finplaneducation.net/county_appointed_boards.htm. ANSWER: Yes.

13. Should the County Council have the same attorney as the City of Lebanon? ANSWER: My answer is no, as a general rule, That is not to say that the right attorney could not perform both duties without allowing himself/herself to become involved in a conflict of interest problem.

14. Should the Mapleview Rest Home remain open? BACKGROUND: See http://www.finplaneducation.net/boone_county_mapleview.htm. ANSWER: The Mapleview Home performs an important function for the county but at a substantial cost to taxpayers. I would want to hear the recommendations from the advisory board and also investigate other avenues for funding.

15. Should there be a tax-supported Boone County Animal Shelter? ANSWER: No, it should be privately funded.

16. Do you wish to make some additional comments about your candidacy? Do you have a campaign phone number and E-mail address? Do you have a website? ANSWER: Please visit my "Chip Cravens for Boone County Council" Facebook page. I am very conservative in my thoughts and actions and blessed with commonsense. I ask for your vote on May 6th. 

Campaign Contributions: January 1, 2014, through April 11, 2014

As detailed in the spreadsheet below, Candidate Cravens is self-funding 20% of his campaign. He has received no itemized contributions from business interests.

Watchdog Lebanon Home Page Steve Jacob Watchdog Indiana Candidate Rating

This page was last updated on 04/24/14.