County Adds Staff For Police, Courts
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County Council voted repeatedly Thursday night for more law and order.
Now all they have to do is find an orderly way to fund it under state law.
Council voted unanimously to approve requests that will provide two more probation officers, establish concrete security in the Justice Building and put two more deputies on the road.
Action during the third budget meeting in four nights spanned nearly six hours, and despite lots of grilling of department heads, the county's general budget is likely still $1 million over the frozen levy, according to one councilman.
Council also set salary levels that include the start of what could become a significant form of merit pay in the future.
Council will meet again at 6 p.m. Tuesday to see if what they've approved can be done within the constraints of the frozen levy. The options include:
• alter the local income tax to increase revenues.
• seek an appeal of the frozen levy,
• make significant cuts to bring the budget within current spending limits.
Thursday's action was possibly the most significant step toward beefing up law and order in the county since the new jail was opened 15 years ago.
"I'm very appreciative of what they did. They've given us the manpower to do some things that need to be done," said Sheriff Al Rovenstine.
Council heard numerous appeals for more help, but the most impassioned plea came from judges whose concern about courthouse safety surfaced after years of unease. Kosciusko County's justice building is one of the few court buildings that lack any significant security.
Officials fear that events such as the bombing in Kokomo a few years ago and the shooting in Noble County Courthouse one year ago could easily occur locally if security isn't established.
The Justice Building is already the center of simmering tempers and occasional outbreaks of anger in criminal and civil hearings.
Superior Court II Judge James Jarrette has seen the tensions up close.
"A year or so ago, I had to break up a fist fight," Jarrette said. "I'm 49 years old. I don't think that's part of my job."
In another incident, Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed said a woman last week was found rifling through paperwork on his desk. She was escorted out by a secretary, but returned for a similar episode the next day, he said.
Council later questioned whether one security person would be sufficient. The courts want two officers so one can operate a metal detector at the lone entrance while another checks on the courtrooms. One security person would be insufficient, Jarrette said.
Jarrette warned that if "we take a half measure and somebody gets hurt" the blame would fall on council.
Council also took action to beef up the probation department, which is understaffed according to most standards. The county's six probation officers handle 1,385 cases. According to Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer, caseloads should be about 35 for juvenile probation officers and 70 cases for adult probation officers.
The county's lone probation officer for juveniles has 253 cases.
Huffer said if he is going to have any success in rehabilitating juvenile offenders he has to have more probation officers.
Sheriff Al Rovenstine also won approval for two more officers. Funds for those positions will be paid with grant money, including a federal crime grant and a new state grant. Rovenstine voiced opposition to entering into such a program because when the grant money expires, local taxpayers have to pick up the slack if the position is to be maintained.
But since the money is available, he advocated taking advantage of it.
Council also faced numerous other requests for increases involving the justice system. Significant hikes were approved to handle increasing needs for public defenders, interpreters for Spanish-speaking defendants and other court costs.
In almost all of the measures, council acted unanimously, an indication of how strongly they felt about the requests.
Council appeared uncertain about their plans for finalizing the budget.
"There is no fat in the budget," said councilman Harold Jones.
Rovenstine said the county's reputation for conservative budgeting over the years might finally be classing with continued growth in the county.
"The county's been living on the low edge for funds and it's finally catching up," Rovenstine said.
Council also approved a salary plan in which employees would receive a 2 percent hike and department heads would be given discretion to award another percent or two for individual workers. [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County Council voted repeatedly Thursday night for more law and order.
Now all they have to do is find an orderly way to fund it under state law.
Council voted unanimously to approve requests that will provide two more probation officers, establish concrete security in the Justice Building and put two more deputies on the road.
Action during the third budget meeting in four nights spanned nearly six hours, and despite lots of grilling of department heads, the county's general budget is likely still $1 million over the frozen levy, according to one councilman.
Council also set salary levels that include the start of what could become a significant form of merit pay in the future.
Council will meet again at 6 p.m. Tuesday to see if what they've approved can be done within the constraints of the frozen levy. The options include:
• alter the local income tax to increase revenues.
• seek an appeal of the frozen levy,
• make significant cuts to bring the budget within current spending limits.
Thursday's action was possibly the most significant step toward beefing up law and order in the county since the new jail was opened 15 years ago.
"I'm very appreciative of what they did. They've given us the manpower to do some things that need to be done," said Sheriff Al Rovenstine.
Council heard numerous appeals for more help, but the most impassioned plea came from judges whose concern about courthouse safety surfaced after years of unease. Kosciusko County's justice building is one of the few court buildings that lack any significant security.
Officials fear that events such as the bombing in Kokomo a few years ago and the shooting in Noble County Courthouse one year ago could easily occur locally if security isn't established.
The Justice Building is already the center of simmering tempers and occasional outbreaks of anger in criminal and civil hearings.
Superior Court II Judge James Jarrette has seen the tensions up close.
"A year or so ago, I had to break up a fist fight," Jarrette said. "I'm 49 years old. I don't think that's part of my job."
In another incident, Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed said a woman last week was found rifling through paperwork on his desk. She was escorted out by a secretary, but returned for a similar episode the next day, he said.
Council later questioned whether one security person would be sufficient. The courts want two officers so one can operate a metal detector at the lone entrance while another checks on the courtrooms. One security person would be insufficient, Jarrette said.
Jarrette warned that if "we take a half measure and somebody gets hurt" the blame would fall on council.
Council also took action to beef up the probation department, which is understaffed according to most standards. The county's six probation officers handle 1,385 cases. According to Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer, caseloads should be about 35 for juvenile probation officers and 70 cases for adult probation officers.
The county's lone probation officer for juveniles has 253 cases.
Huffer said if he is going to have any success in rehabilitating juvenile offenders he has to have more probation officers.
Sheriff Al Rovenstine also won approval for two more officers. Funds for those positions will be paid with grant money, including a federal crime grant and a new state grant. Rovenstine voiced opposition to entering into such a program because when the grant money expires, local taxpayers have to pick up the slack if the position is to be maintained.
But since the money is available, he advocated taking advantage of it.
Council also faced numerous other requests for increases involving the justice system. Significant hikes were approved to handle increasing needs for public defenders, interpreters for Spanish-speaking defendants and other court costs.
In almost all of the measures, council acted unanimously, an indication of how strongly they felt about the requests.
Council appeared uncertain about their plans for finalizing the budget.
"There is no fat in the budget," said councilman Harold Jones.
Rovenstine said the county's reputation for conservative budgeting over the years might finally be classing with continued growth in the county.
"The county's been living on the low edge for funds and it's finally catching up," Rovenstine said.
Council also approved a salary plan in which employees would receive a 2 percent hike and department heads would be given discretion to award another percent or two for individual workers. [[In-content Ad]]