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Local organizations presented their 2002 budget requests to the Kosciusko County council Thursday.
The budget requests were already presented to the Kosciusko County commissioners. The requests will be approved or denied during the hearing of the commissioners' budget along with other department budgets.
The 4-H office requested $46,639 for 2002. Approximately $26,000 will help cover fair expenses.
The Animal Welfare League is requesting $66,000 for 2002, an increase of $6,000. Arrowhead wants the same in 2002 as this year - $500.
Last year, Beaman Home requested $27,500. For 2002, they are requesting $34,000.
Cardinal Center is requesting $95,000 for 2002. For this year, the budget request was for $117,000 but included $37,000 for roof repairs.
The Council on Aging wants $38,000 for 2002. In 2001, their budget request was for $27,500.
No increase in funds was requested by the Kosciusko County Historical Society. They again asked for $23,000.
An increase of $11,750 to $46,750 was asked for by Kosciusko Development Inc.
Though the Lakeland Art Association is not in the commissioners' budget for 2002, the association asked the county council to keep them in mind for future budgets.
The budget hearings will be July 30 and 31 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.
In other business, the council:
• Received a copy of the first final draft of the contract with The Troyer Group for the Western Route Project.
The contract, if approved by the county council and county commissioners, will allow the county to pay The Troyer Group $98,000 for a corridor study; $24,700 to coordinate the project with the environmental agencies; and $22,000 to coordinate the project with the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The county commissioners and county council will hold a joint meeting July 26 at 7 p.m. in the Munson Building, North Lake Street, Warsaw, to discuss the contract.
• Approved a transfer of $2,000 from the 911 fund equipment account to the education fund. Because additional training is required of the dispatchers, the education fund has experienced a shortfall.
• Approved a transfer of $577.05 from the jail budget promotions account to Tom Craft's payroll account. Craft has been promoted to supervisory capacity in the jail. A companion salary ordinance for the promotion also was approved.
• Approved a transfer of $770 for the county commissioners.
• Approved a salary ordinance amendment for the auditor's office.
• Approved to re-establish the county's sales disclosure fund. A law change effective July 1 requires fiscal bodies to have one, but Kosciusko County already had one and just needed to re-establish the fund.
• Approved the reappointment of Margaret Cousins to the Milford Public Library board.
A resolution giving Milford Library permission to charge their 4-cent tax rate for capital projects fund was also approved. The library has already held its public meetings on the tax rate.
• Approved the appointment of Anthony Etienne to the Warsaw Community Public Library board. Other candidates considered included Benjamin Navarro, Jesse Deloe and Paulette Sauders.
Etienne recently retired as assistant superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools.
A resolution giving WCPL permission to charge their tax rate for their capital projects fund was also approved. The library has already held its public meetings on the tax rate.
• Council president Jim Tranter reported Kosciusko County was a top 30 finalist in the All-America City competition.
"It was quite an honor," he said. The county received a letter from the Syracuse, N.Y., mayor congratulating the county on being a finalist.
Members of the Kosciusko County Council are president Jim Tranter, vice president Brad Tandy, Tom Anglin, Harold Jones, John Kinsey, Larry Teghtmeyer and Maurice Beer. They meet at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
