The county council officially amended the recision of a 7-percent pay for county employees Thursday night.
The county council, meeting in the old courtroom, voted to take $235,000 out of the county's rainy day fund.
The pay cut would have saved the county $562,000, according to County Auditor Marsha McSherry.Due to budget cuts in different departments, the shortfall was $235,000.
The board held a lengthy discussion about possible ways to trim its budget for the 2011 fiscal year.
Councilman Bob Sanders read an e-mail he received detailing the state's budget shortfall in the first part of the 2010 fiscal year. Governor Mitch Daniels said the state missed its projected revenue by $165.8 million.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said one thing the board could look at is cutting down on the 15 paid holidays county employees get.
"The county has always been generous with its holidays," said councilwoman Charlene Knispel.
"I think the ultimate goal would be the 10 holidays everyone else recognizes," said Teghtmeyer.
Teghtmeyer also said he was recently at a conference of county council members from across the state. The conference was designed to look at ways for counties to save money. Teghtmeyer said things like budget forecasting and downsizing were discussed.
County Clerk Jason McSherry asked for and was approved to purchase the county's current case management system.
The cost will be in excess of $124,000. Half of that cost will be cover by incentive money while 66 percent of the other half will be reimbursed to the clerk's office by the state.
Jason McSherry said the move to a new system will be more efficient and help save manpower.
"I hope to overall save a total of one person ultimately," said Jason McSherry. "I hope to put that person to work on the imaging side of the software."
The new software includes uploading electronic tickets. The software is currently being used by 49 other counties. It will also allow the prosecutor's and probation offices to view tickets easier.
Jason McSherry said the current software being used is 16 years old.
The board also approved the $450,000 budget of the county visitor's bureau.
John Hall, speaking on behalf of the CVB, said the budget is down $115,000 from last year.
The board approved appointing Dan Woods to replace Kent Adams as the council's representative on the Bowen Center board. Woods has already served on the board since 1999.
Sheriff Rocky Goshert asked for and was approved to transfer $12,411.50 from the reimbursement insurance fund to repairs and maintenance.
County Administrator Ron Robinson said Mike Barrett resigned as the veteran services officer for the county. Robinson said the position must be filled, and a notice is currently up at the American Legion building in Warsaw.
Barrett's resignation takes effect Nov. 9.
Robinson also informed the council that the county's dispatch is losing a 16-year veteran. The council approved the 911 board to move ahead with looking for a replacement.
Due to a hiring freeze, the council, who controls the money for the county, must approve such expenditures.
Robinson also said work is continuing on repair of the old courthouse dome and has been slowed by inclement weather.
