Kosciusko County Council adopted a $15,484,172 budget for 2008 Thursday.
The council approved the adoption after cutting $475,900 in budget items and operating funds from the original $15,960,072 total preliminarily approved Aug. 30. Operating funds are non-budgeted money the county keeps on hand for cashflow to pay bills. The council cut $500,000 from the county general fund, leaving a $3 million operating balance; $250,000 from the cumulative bridge fund, leaving a $750,000 operating balance; and $150,000 from the sheriff's budget for vehicles.
County Auditor-Elect Marsha McSherry told the council the budget is still $175,900 more than the maximum levy allowed by the state. However, the state has not yet determined the percentage of levy growth they will allow for 2008.
Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said she assumed a 4-percent increase to estimate a maximum levy. She said with the cuts made Thursday, the county may need to trim their operating balance, but should not have to cut any more budgeted money.
Mitchell said it likely will be February before the county receives a 1782 notice from the Department of Local Government Finance showing whether the county has met the mark for the maximum levy.
Council President Harold Jones said the council will have the chance to make changes to the budget in regular meetings until the end of the year.
Last year, the county approved a $13.5 million budget for 2007.
McSherry also told the council Kosciusko County will not face a property tax reassessment order from the state. Kosciusko was one of nine counties the Department of Local Government Finance cleared Thursday.
The state DLGF has ordered four counties to redo or partially redo their 2007 property tax assessments. Decisions are pending for a list of 17 other counties, including nearby Fulton County, that also may be subject to reassessment orders (see story related story on page 1). Property owners in Burket, Seward, Franklin, Mentone-Franklin, Harrison and Mentone-Harrison tax districts will be affected if Fulton County is ordered to reassess property taxes because they are part of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. Property owners in the school district will not receive their 2007 property tax bills until the DLGF approves Fulton County's assessment numbers.
The council also approved the county salary ordinance, pending adjustments made during budget hearings in August.
