MILFORD - At the second budget workshop of the year Monday, the Milford Town Council was pleased with the way the 2004 budgets were looking.

"Well, the budgets look pretty good so far," said John Lehman, town council chairman.

During the meeting, the council looked at the budgets for the motor vehicle highway fund, the park and the police department.

Dallas Winchester, utilities commissioner, said the 2003 total MVH fund was $211,672 and proposed a 2004 budget of $214,925.

"It's pretty basic and straight out," he said.

"I think the MVH budget looks real good," councilman Douglas Ruch told Winchester.

The park board is requesting only $980 more for 2004 than for 2003, for a total of $28,950.

In 2003, the police department has spent only $106,213.12 of the $246,618.94 budgeted, town marshal Dave Hobbs told the council. For 2004, he proposed $256,500. The 2004 budget includes $45,300 for Hobbs' salary, $109,000 for all three deputies' pay and $5,200 for the crossing guard. The pay is based on a 5 percent increase over 2003.

Hobbs told the council some of the officers have been asking about retirement. He said he knows it's hard for a small town to pay for such things, but maybe the council could come up with something in the future.

The council discussed some of the options, include deferred compensation and Public Employees Retirement Fund, but made no decision. Ruch will contact Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson about what the county does for its employees' retirement and will present the information to the council at the June 30 executive session meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss personnel matters.

The council also will hold another budget workshop July 7 at 6 p.m., and their regular meeting will be July 14 at 7 p.m.

In another matter, the town council approved Carol Haab to serve another term on the Milford Library board.

Members of the Milford Town Council are Ruch, Lehman and Bob Phillips. [[In-content Ad]]