(La Porte County, IN) - Citing a projected loss in tax revenue from statewide property tax reform, the La Porte County Commissioners on Wednesday denied a travel request by the La Porte County Recorder.

 

Recorder Ela Bilderback believes the heat directed toward her and the decision that followed was nothing short of a personal attack driven by politics.

 

“Thank you for your personal vendetta,” she said while mixing words with Commissioner Connie Gramarossa.

 

Commissioner Joe Haney motioned to support her request but a vote could not be taken because neither Commissioner Steve Holifield nor Gramarossa offered to support the motion, which is required for a vote to be taken.

 

Bilderback requested travel expenses to attend a three day symposium from a software provider for her office in Iowa.  She said the purpose was to learn about some upcoming changes in the software to stay up to date on the computer programs used in her office.

 

Holifield said travel expense requests have started to be scrutinized more because of the revenue cuts local governments are projected to face from the recently adopted statewide property tax relief legislation.

 

Holifield also told her the trip was not state mandated or required.

 

“How are we supposed to stay up to date and be able to do our jobs correctly,” she responded.

 

Bilderback is associated with former La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz, who with Haney played a leading role in the butting of heads with Gramarossa and other figures on her side of the political fence until leaving office at the end of last year.