Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Like many other cities and towns in Indiana, North Manchester is feeling the pinch of budget cuts at the state level.
Wednesday night at the regular meeting of the North Manchester Town Council, Town Clerk Nancy Reed addressed the proposed 2007 budget and presented spread sheets with revenue information from the past five years.
The chart shows that in four of the past five years, the projected funds actually received from property taxes was less than the amount proposed. Funds received from the state were less than projected in three of the past five years as well.
"Most years we are not getting what it is estimated we should get," Reed said. "(County Economic Development Income Tax) is less than projected most years as well."
In order to address the possibility of reduced funds again in 2007, Reed met with department heads and the group decided to flatline this year's budget. The department heads will work with the same budget numbers this year that they did last year.
"It's not just our town facing this," said council president Don Rinearson. "The budget process has moved out of our hands, out of the council's hands and out of the department heads' hands. We're not happy ... We don't like to be in this position."
Rinearson said the council and department heads are trying to be fiscally responsible, but said if one of the department heads needs something, they should tell the council.
"If you've got a problem, we're going to take care of it," Rinearson said.
In other business, the council:
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance to add two handicapped spaces on Ninth Street near the water tower, and eliminate parking on the east side of East Street from College Avenue to Stadium Drive and the west side of East Street from College Avenue to the north side of the Holl-Kitner building on Manchester College Campus.
• Held a public hearing for the Community Focus Fund Grant request for improvements to the Town Life Center. The town is requesting a grant of $394,975 and will put forth matching funds of $112,325. The grant will be used to install a new electrical system, add handicapped-accessible restrooms on the first floor, repair and replace windows and replace the roof of the Town Life Center.
• Approved street closings for Harvest Festival in October. The parking lot between the American Legion and a cafe downtown, parts of Main Street, and Walnut Street from Main Street to Second Street will be closed for the festival.
• Heard the town will lose a cable channel because the WB channel is going out of business.
• Heard the process of moving sludge will begin in the next few weeks. Over the next few months, around $30,000 will be spent to dispose of the sludge.
• Approved the tap fee rate increase ordinance on the third reading. The increase takes effect immediately.
Town Council members are Chris Garber, Diana Haupert, Don Rinearson, Stan Escott and Laura Rager. Town manager is Dan Hannaford, secretary-treasurer is Nancy Reed and town attorney is Charles Tiede.
