County Deletes '400 Accounts' To Prevent Possible Shortfalls
To prevent as much of a financial shortfall as possible, the Kosciusko County Council Thursday approved the deletion of all "400" accounts from each department's budget. The 400 accounts include furniture, filing cabinets, vehicles and similar items.The county commissioners' 400 account was not deleted so that if any department needed any emergency item, that department could request it from the commissioners. Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell's report on the county finances helped the council make the decision.She said the county is working with a maximum levy of an estimated $7.5 million, with the total amount being levied approximately $7.4 million.The county is dipping into its operating balance by $1.3 million.However, by moving funds around, Mitchell said, they were able to reduce that to $500,000, and the county is $400,000 short of where they were last year in the operating balance.
WCS Dipping Into Cash Reserves
While some school systems in Indiana this year received less from the state than they expected, Warsaw Community Schools actually received more, the school board learned Monday. Warsaw schools received $90,000 more than anticipated, said business manager Rande Thorpe, but expenditures will still exceed revenue by $551,774.
Housing Authority Director Seeks $50,000 From City
Pam Kennedy represented both the Housing Opportunities of Warsaw and the Warsaw Housing Authority during a city council meeting Tuesday. She reported on both organizations' financial status and requested $50,000 in funds from the 2006 city budget to keep both programs "afloat." After experiencing two major cuts in federal funding, including voucher monies collected, Kennedy said 2005 had been a "difficult year" for the programs.Financial matters aside, Kennedy stressed the importance of the programs during the nation's current crisis situation. "We have a real opportunity currently," Kennedy said."Transitional housing is the perfect situation for people affected by the flood." In the proposed 2006 budget, the city assigned WHA $25,000 for operating expenses.Kennedy's request Tuesday was for an additional $25,000 to go to HOW, monies the city reserved for a matching grant program for the organization.
County Wrestles With Reassessment Issues
As the county learns more about the reassessment and the state's tax restructuring, the more questions seem to arise. Thursday, Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell explained to the county council what she learned at a recent meeting in Indianapolis regarding tax increment financing issues created by House Bill 1001 and the inventory tax elimination. For TIF at the county level, Mitchell said, several years ago Kosciusko County established the entire county as TIF districts except for towns and incorporated districts.A "TIF allocation area" for the Maple Leaf TIF CR 900N project also was created, but the assessed values before the project were set as the base assessed value for the area.Taxes on any increased assessed value is being diverted to the TIF district to meet the financial obligation to repay bonds issued to do the Maple Leaf CR 900N project.
Athletic director gives financial report
SYRACUSE - Every July, the Wawasee Athletic Department financial report is presented to the Wawasee Community School Corp.Board of Trustees. Tuesday, Wawasee Athletic Director Mary Hurley presented the report.She said Wawasee was fortunate in that the school corporation has strong family support for its athletes.Go to any sporting event and one can see the peer and family support.Wawasee's real successes are not the state championships but what the student athletes carry away from the programs. Board member Marion Acton said Wawasee coaches are teachers."Kids are learning, kids are improving, kids are having opportunities."He commended Hurley "because it takes strong leadership to provide those kind of things." In the athletic department report, Hurley noted that most of the operating funds of the department come through gate receipts.Other sizable amounts also are generated from the Warrior Open and selling concessions at football and boys basketball games.
Warsaw Library To Cut Back On Hours
In response to the predicted financial shortfall caused by the state's delay in tax reassessment, the board of Warsaw Community Public Library voted to cut the building's hours of operation from 66 to 55 per week. The cuts will last "the duration of the current economic uncertainty," said board member Mark Morrison as he made the motion to trim the hours Monday. Beginning Monday, WCPL hours will be 9 a.m.to 8 p.m.Mondays and Tuesdays; 9 a.m.to 6 p.m.Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.Saturdays. Reduced hours of operation are just the tip of the funding iceberg. There is a freeze on hiring, part-time staffers will receive a 17 percent cut in their hours and expenditures are limited to utility bills and absolute emergencies. New books, videos, periodicals and other materials will not be ordered until the tax revenues are released.
N.M. Gets Tax Allotment; '06 Budget Not Approved
NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester Community Schools Business Manager Steve Shumaker had good news and not-so-good news at the regular school board meeting Monday night. First, he presented several pieces of good news. Shumaker said the school received its final tax allotment from 2005 so he could close out the year's financial statements.Shumaker has been waiting for the allotment since late 2005. He then announced to the board that the corporation earned $61,268 in interest last year.Shumaker attributed the interest growth to careful observation of accounts. Finally, Shumaker told the board the cash balance in the general fund has reached $1.2 million, just under 12 percent of the corporation's total budget.When Shumaker was hired as business manager, his goal was to build the cash balance to $800,000 over time.Careful spending and frugal budgeting helped lead to the increase, he said.
Leesburg Facing Financial Hurdles
LEESBURG - Just like many people, the town of Leesburg is facing financial challenges.
Pierceton Council Hears More On New Park Board
PIERCETON - Pierceton town attorney Jim Walmer told the town council Monday that creating a town park board may be more complex than it sounds.
CASA Holiday Fundraiser Held In Warsaw
The 11th Annual CASA Holiday Festival fundraiser was Nov. 9 at the Biomet Hangar at Warsaw Municipal Airport.
Crazy Waiter Dinner, Auction Saturday At 2517 To Benefit CCS
The annual Crazy Waiter Dinner and Auction is Saturday.
Thomas - Now There's Egg on Your Face(book)
There will be investigations and already there are lawsuits over the rollout of Facebook’s overhyped IPO last week, but no investigation is necessary into the reason for the outrage over the stock’s rapid fall. It’s called human nature.
Warsaw Schools Ends 2014 Mostly in the Black
Warsaw Community Schools’ finances ended mostly in the black in 2014, according to Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott.
Fair Board Will Appeal Injunction
Kosciusko County Community Fair Inc. issued a news release Thursday in response to Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed’s temporary injunction on motorized racing at the fairgrounds while the court proceedings are ongoing.
1st Source Bank Makes Investment In Grace
1st Source Bank recently presented a $10,000 check to Grace College for ongoing support of a stock ticker and data display in the School of Business.
First-Generation Grace College Student Honored For ‘Realizing The Dream’
WINONA LAKE — Bianca Jimenez-Ortiz, a Grace College sophomore from Elkhart, was recently one of 30 Hoosier students to receive the “Realizing the Dream” scholarship from Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).
