MILFORD - The final budget numbers were announced Monday at the Milford Town Council, but not without some controversy.

Initially, the budget was based on assessed evaluation in June of $13,957,729. The final budget number given to Milford by the State Board of Tax Commissioners put the budget based on assessed evaluation at $15,703,365. Milford's tax rate will be $2.1054, a decrease from last year's $2.1559 rate.

The budget was $9,650 under the maximum levy.

The budget was also based on a 5 percent salary ordinance. That's where the controversy over the budget came up.

Councilman Doug Ruch motioned to approve the 5 percent salary ordinance. There were no seconds. Councilman Robert Beer III motioned to approve a 4 percent salary ordinance. There were no seconds on the motion. No other motions were entertained about setting the salary ordinance except one to table it to the next meeting.

"(When we set the budget), I felt 5 percent was too high then," Councilman Don Wolferman said.

"I can't see the town taxpayers living on Social Security paying that tax rate," he said.

Charlotte Siegfried, Milford clerk-treasurer, said the tax rate was already set and couldn't be changed. The salary ordinance would not change the tax rate. Wolferman said he was told they could lower the tax rate but couldn't raise it. Ruch said only the salary ordinance could be lowered but the tax rate, and its effect on citizens of the town, was already set. Several town employees were vocal about setting the salary ordinance.

Township trustee and utilities department head Dallas Winchester said, "The tax rate is already set at 5 percent and now you want to lower (the salary ordinance) that (won't affect the tax rate). Why would you ever do that?"

Siegfried said, "In order to get good employees, you have to give them good salaries."

The next meeting is Dec. 14, when the town hopes to establish the salary ordinance.

In other local controversy, EMS department head Kent Sawyer reported that the county highway department is proposing to close one of the railroad crossings at Gravelton. Sawyer and members of that community were opposed to the closing.

"We'd like to have two crossings out at Gravelton," Sawyer said. "(A closing) is going to limit our access to Gravelton."

Sawyer's department sent a letter opposing the closing. The county highway department sent a letter back stating the highway department was going to recommend the closing anyway, Sawyer said.

Today, Kosciusko County highway department engineer Rob Ladson said there was a nationwide initiative to close crossings that are not necessarily in the best interest of the safety of the community. He said that the crossing is a gravel road and has very low traffic.

"The opposition I received was about three letters and I received one letter in favor," Ladson said.

Ladson said that when a person considers the fact that most roads are a mile away anyway, the closing was not a major inconvenience. He said that as part of a deal with CSX, they would close that crossing and install crossing lights and gates at another crossing.

"There are some petitions that are going around Gravelton (opposing the closing)," Sawyer said at the meeting.

Sawyer said the recommendation before the Kosciusko County commissioners by the highway department would be Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. He recommended that the council be at the meeting to oppose the closing.

"The (Milford) Fire Department and the EMS are under legal obligation to cover that area," Sawyer said.

In other business, the last day for leaf pickup will be Nov. 20. After that date, leaves will have to be bagged.

The council also approved the purchase of 35 parking blocks to be placed in the new parking lot. The parking lot will have a one-way entrance. It is almost completed except some striping left to do, Winchester said. [[In-content Ad]]