Commissioners May Double CCD Rate; Hear $1M In Nonprofit Requests
Posted
Jordan Fouts-
Kosciusko County Commissioners introduced a bill to more than double the cumulative capital development tax rate this morning and heard non-profit budget requests totaling over $1 million. The CCD rate would be set at $0.0333 per $100 of assessed value of real and personal property beginning with taxes payable next year. The current rate is $0.0135. The new rate, the maximum allowed by the state, was one of several recommendations from Umbaugh and Associates for preventing about $4 million in budget deficits by 2016. Commissioners will hold a public hearing during their June 17 meeting at 9 a.m. before taking any action. Earlier in the meeting, directors of several non-profit county agencies presented their 2015 budget requests, altogether seeking a $61,577 increase to $516,903. This is higher than the increase they requested for this year – a total of $525,532 for nine agencies – though they received $455,326, continuing a downward trend in funding from 2010. Additionally, the Bowen Center is requesting $555,360, a $12,490 increase from their 2014 county funding. Agency heads told similar stories of doing more with less, while some are facing current or potential cuts in services and staff as demand grows, costs rise and revenue falls. “A little service is better than no service at all,” remarked Home Care and Hospice Executive Director Rick Paczkowski, after telling commissioners they may have to start reducing services and staff. In February they laid off two nurses and a social workers, leaving them with 30 full-time employees and 25 part-time for their nine programs. “We all run a mean ship,” said Tracie Hodson, Beaman Home executive director, also noting that non-profits have to squeeze more services out of less money. But they’re seeing more women and children and need staff to provide services, she said. Commissioners also approved a two-year contract with Rave Mobile Safety for Smart911, a database service that provides additional information on callers. Porter County credits it with aiding 50 calls a month, Commissioner Ron Truex said, while County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock said it would provide information on the special needs of callers that county emergency services don’t currently have access to. Commissioner Bob Conley motioned to approve the two-year term, at $15,000 the first year and $12,000 each year after, with the option of extending the contract another three years.
