Council Split On Tourism Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Both budgets are run through the Kosciusko County Recreation and Tourism Commission.
Wes Stouder was at Thursday night's meeting as a representative from the commission.
Councilman Bob Sanders said he felt uncomfortable because the budgets were worked in a way that estimated how much revenue would come in from the state's innkeeper tax.
Stouder said that both the CVB and CCAC know that if there are shortfalls it will have to be accounted for in the budget.
CVB's Mary Kittrell said that she is aware that if the budget estimates fall short her department will have to account for that.
There was discussion of having a special meeting to approve the budget after the council had more time to look at it.
According to county auditor Marsha McSherry, there was also no audits available from the commission for 2008.
Stouder said he expects an audit from 2009 to be ready soon and that the 2010 audit should be ready by April 1.
The budget has to be approved by Nov. 1 per the Department of Local Government Finance.
The council eventually took a vote and passed the budget 4-2 with council members Sanders and Larry Teghtmeyer voting against it.
Sanders said in the information he received there was no contingency plan for either entity on what they would do if there were budget shortfalls.
Custom Engineered Wheels moved toward getting a 10-year tax abatement on both real and personal property after the council voted to allow a public hearing for next month's meeting.
Attorney Steve Snyder represented the company and said it is looking to expand.
The company has three plants and is headquartered in Warsaw.
It is at 1851 N. Fox Farm Road, Warsaw, and employs 76 people full-time and up to 15 temporary employees a year who work 40 hours a week.
The company's expansion would add 13 full-time employees, according to Snyder.
Councilman John Kinsey asked why they were seeking a 10-year abatement on both real and personal property when the council doesn't normally allow that.
Snyder said because the company can't purchase more land, they had to pay a premium on equipment to put in the current location.
The public hearing for the tax abatement will be held during the council's Nov. 4 meeting.
Sheriff Rocky Goshert was retroactively given permission to hire three employees at work release.
Goshert said the department was extremely shorthanded and that they had hire people to replace those who quit before the council meeting.
"It's the only money maker we have so I say we approve it," said councilman Tom Anglin.
The clerk's office was given permission to fill a full-time position with a part-time person who, according to county administrator Ron Robinson, has more than four years of experience and recently moved back to the area from out-of-state.
The Solid Waste District's budget was approved unanimously.[[In-content Ad]]The council also approved county dispatch director David Rosenberry to replace a dispatcher who recently resigned.
Rosenberry also asked and was allowed to transfer $8,000 from the department's telephone account to overtime.
County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden was introduced to the council last night. Tilden took over the position last month.
Both budgets are run through the Kosciusko County Recreation and Tourism Commission.
Wes Stouder was at Thursday night's meeting as a representative from the commission.
Councilman Bob Sanders said he felt uncomfortable because the budgets were worked in a way that estimated how much revenue would come in from the state's innkeeper tax.
Stouder said that both the CVB and CCAC know that if there are shortfalls it will have to be accounted for in the budget.
CVB's Mary Kittrell said that she is aware that if the budget estimates fall short her department will have to account for that.
There was discussion of having a special meeting to approve the budget after the council had more time to look at it.
According to county auditor Marsha McSherry, there was also no audits available from the commission for 2008.
Stouder said he expects an audit from 2009 to be ready soon and that the 2010 audit should be ready by April 1.
The budget has to be approved by Nov. 1 per the Department of Local Government Finance.
The council eventually took a vote and passed the budget 4-2 with council members Sanders and Larry Teghtmeyer voting against it.
Sanders said in the information he received there was no contingency plan for either entity on what they would do if there were budget shortfalls.
Custom Engineered Wheels moved toward getting a 10-year tax abatement on both real and personal property after the council voted to allow a public hearing for next month's meeting.
Attorney Steve Snyder represented the company and said it is looking to expand.
The company has three plants and is headquartered in Warsaw.
It is at 1851 N. Fox Farm Road, Warsaw, and employs 76 people full-time and up to 15 temporary employees a year who work 40 hours a week.
The company's expansion would add 13 full-time employees, according to Snyder.
Councilman John Kinsey asked why they were seeking a 10-year abatement on both real and personal property when the council doesn't normally allow that.
Snyder said because the company can't purchase more land, they had to pay a premium on equipment to put in the current location.
The public hearing for the tax abatement will be held during the council's Nov. 4 meeting.
Sheriff Rocky Goshert was retroactively given permission to hire three employees at work release.
Goshert said the department was extremely shorthanded and that they had hire people to replace those who quit before the council meeting.
"It's the only money maker we have so I say we approve it," said councilman Tom Anglin.
The clerk's office was given permission to fill a full-time position with a part-time person who, according to county administrator Ron Robinson, has more than four years of experience and recently moved back to the area from out-of-state.
The Solid Waste District's budget was approved unanimously.[[In-content Ad]]The council also approved county dispatch director David Rosenberry to replace a dispatcher who recently resigned.
Rosenberry also asked and was allowed to transfer $8,000 from the department's telephone account to overtime.
County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden was introduced to the council last night. Tilden took over the position last month.
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