Council Begins Review Of '98 Proposed Budgets
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County began its three-day budget review for 1998 by taking care of some of the easier decisions Monday night.
Council members hashed out about 18 departmental budgets, breezing through most without making any major changes or cuts. However, council did not vote on salary hikes or proposals for additional employees. While most proposed departmental budgets were just a few percent larger than the current levels, about 14 new positions are being sought in various areas.
Decisions on personnel will be made Thursday night in the final of three preliminary budget meetings.
Council will meet again tonight to review about six more department budgets and requests from townships.
On Monday, council granted preliminary approval to several requests by the highway department for new equipment.
Council approved a request to purchase a new paving machine, a new paving roller and brush clipper with an estimated total cost of $220,000. A request for a a $10,000 computer and a $230 weather equipment was also approved.
Highway superintendent Rob Ladsen, who was hired last month, will also have more money for paving over the next two years, but it has nothing to do with local tax dollars.
As a result of the state legislature, the county will have an additional $600,000 for road work over the next two years, Ladsen said.
Council also approved plans to retain former highway superintendent Ken Traylor as a consultant. Originally, county officials agreed to an annual consulting agreement with Traylor until a new superintendent was hired. But Ladsen and commissioner Brad Jackson said Traylor's expertise will be needed for specific projects for at least the next year.
The agreement allows up to $18,000 in consulting fees with Traylor in 1998.
The commissioners budget includes no new personnel, and all of the agency requests were approved with almost no increase over the past year. The only agency to receive a hike is the domestic abuse center, Beaman Home, which will see its support rise from $23,000 to $25,000.
If the commissioners' entire budget, including salaries, would be approved, the $3,685,590 figure would represent a 5 percent rise over the current budget. But since council regularly trims proposed salary levels, the total budget increase will be smaller.
Thursday's session could be rancorous if department heads choose to defend their requests for new workers.
Among the requests, the assessor, auditor and clerk are seeking new positions. The prosecutor is seeking two new positions. The sheriff wants two new deputies and is asking for two more for court security. Two of those positions could be covered with grant money, according to budgets supplied by the auditor's office.
Although the auditor's budget appears to include an additional employee, auditor Charlene Knispel said Monday she isn't seeking one. The figure was apparently a mathematical error.
Departments within the justice building are seeking two probation officers, a public defender and a new court reporter.
Budget sessions tonight and Thursday begin at 6 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County began its three-day budget review for 1998 by taking care of some of the easier decisions Monday night.
Council members hashed out about 18 departmental budgets, breezing through most without making any major changes or cuts. However, council did not vote on salary hikes or proposals for additional employees. While most proposed departmental budgets were just a few percent larger than the current levels, about 14 new positions are being sought in various areas.
Decisions on personnel will be made Thursday night in the final of three preliminary budget meetings.
Council will meet again tonight to review about six more department budgets and requests from townships.
On Monday, council granted preliminary approval to several requests by the highway department for new equipment.
Council approved a request to purchase a new paving machine, a new paving roller and brush clipper with an estimated total cost of $220,000. A request for a a $10,000 computer and a $230 weather equipment was also approved.
Highway superintendent Rob Ladsen, who was hired last month, will also have more money for paving over the next two years, but it has nothing to do with local tax dollars.
As a result of the state legislature, the county will have an additional $600,000 for road work over the next two years, Ladsen said.
Council also approved plans to retain former highway superintendent Ken Traylor as a consultant. Originally, county officials agreed to an annual consulting agreement with Traylor until a new superintendent was hired. But Ladsen and commissioner Brad Jackson said Traylor's expertise will be needed for specific projects for at least the next year.
The agreement allows up to $18,000 in consulting fees with Traylor in 1998.
The commissioners budget includes no new personnel, and all of the agency requests were approved with almost no increase over the past year. The only agency to receive a hike is the domestic abuse center, Beaman Home, which will see its support rise from $23,000 to $25,000.
If the commissioners' entire budget, including salaries, would be approved, the $3,685,590 figure would represent a 5 percent rise over the current budget. But since council regularly trims proposed salary levels, the total budget increase will be smaller.
Thursday's session could be rancorous if department heads choose to defend their requests for new workers.
Among the requests, the assessor, auditor and clerk are seeking new positions. The prosecutor is seeking two new positions. The sheriff wants two new deputies and is asking for two more for court security. Two of those positions could be covered with grant money, according to budgets supplied by the auditor's office.
Although the auditor's budget appears to include an additional employee, auditor Charlene Knispel said Monday she isn't seeking one. The figure was apparently a mathematical error.
Departments within the justice building are seeking two probation officers, a public defender and a new court reporter.
Budget sessions tonight and Thursday begin at 6 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]