State Rep. Milo Smith delivered good news to Bartholomew County and Columbus Wednesday afternoon via an over-sized check for more that $6.7 million. Smith co-sponsored a bill that lowered the percentage of

Local Option Income Taxes (LOIT) held in reserve by the state from 50-percent, to 15-percent. When the bill was passed, Smith says that meant that local communities throughout Indiana would see a windfall totaling approximately $434 million. Along with the infusion of cash, Smith said that the distributions represent good-paying jobs rebuilding the state’s infrastructure.

Smith delivered the check to the Bartholomew County Auditor’s Office, where County Auditor Barb Hackman and Columbus Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer were waiting. Hackman said that the county’s portion of the distribution totals nearly $2.5 million. She went on to say that the city of Columbus will get nearly $3.4 million, while the various townships across the county will be sharing just over $900 thousand.

We asked Welmer what the city will use the money for. While she expressed a preference for putting some cash in the city’s “rainy-day” fund, Welmer says that members of the city’s government will meet Thursday to discuss specifics. Welmer says that group includes her, along with her chief deputy, Kim Sweet. Also expected to take part in the discussion is Director of Administration Mary Ferdon, Executive Director of Public Works Dave Hayward and Director of Operations, Finance and Risk Jamie Brinegar.

We asked Hackman what the money will be used for on the county’s end. She said that state lawmakers have given counties guidelines in how they are to use the LOIT disbursement. Hackman says that 75-percent of the money received must be spent on roads, bridges and other infrastructure work. The remaining 25-percent, she said, could be spent however county officials see fit. Hackman says that both the County Commissioners, and County Council, will need to work together to move forward on any additional spending. She added that she expects that both groups will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the issue.