Bartholomew County Council will be taking a serious look at a new income tax to raise money for public safety.

Council members have been told that the tax would raise about $5 million for public safety efforts in the community, with revenues spread between the county, city of Columbus, the various small towns and the townships in the community.

At a work session earlier this week the council members said they were interested in establishing interlocal agreements that would have the towns and city of Columbus return the money they would receive to pay for operations at the Emergency Operations Center.

County income taxes would increase from the current 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent.

The Council will hold a special meeting on August 11th at 1:30 p.m. to hear presentations on the issue from Ed Reuter, the director of the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center, and officials from Plainfield and Clark County who have made similar arrangements in their communities.

There’s no indication on whether a majority of the council would support the income tax hike.