(La Porte County, IN) - The political ring of fire in La Porte County is burning even hotter over a property tax billing mistake.

 

La Porte County Attorney Shaw Friedman said there was an emergency meeting between elected officials and others, including himself, to discuss the issue of what to do about the erroneous tax bills. However, he said Auditor Tim Stabosz was not there to show leadership regarding the mistake made by the auditor's office.

 

Instead, Friedman said Stabosz was attacking him and other county officials during a 90-minute radio show in Michigan City. Friedman said it’s another example of Stabosz being too busy using public office to carry out personal and political agendas.

 

According to Friedman, this is not the first time Stabosz has failed to do his job. He also pointed to Stabosz being late in making a county bond payment last year. Friedman said the late payment cost taxpayers $200,000 because of a higher interest rate in a refinancing attempt.

 

Stabosz said the 10-year refinancing never went through because the interest rates jumped before they could close on the refinancing.  He also said there was no actual cash lost.

 

"The opportunity for savings was lost," he said.

 

Friedman said Stabosz has been making outrageous allegations of corruption and fraud without any evidence to back it up since taking office 16 months ago.

 

“He’s all sizzle and no steak, and it’s the residents of our county who are paying dearly for it,” Friedman said.

Friedman filed a still undecided lawsuit alleging defamation of character against Stabosz last year.