Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett

Mayor Bennett says a $100 refund to taxpayers from the state's surplus may make it harder for municipal governments to avoid raising taxes or creating user fees -- especially those with budget gaps such as his city.  Bennett says the city has eliminated more than 20 positions through attrition during his tenure in office and could soon begin discussion of a waste cleanup fee to help offset the $2 million the city spends every year on waste pickup.