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Despite growing popularity for an educational program, Kosciusko County Council voted not to provide funds for a position responsible for the program in the prosecutor's job.
Faced with requests to provide funds for two positions in the county prosecutor's office, council chose one over the other. By a 7-0 vote, council approved funding for a receptionist in the child support office and not for the prosecutor's administrative assistant.
Funding was needed because the federal incentive money used to pay for the two positions is decreasing. Council was warned in August by prosecutor David Kolbe that funds were decreasing.
The receptionist works with four caseworkers in child support and has helped the office capture more funding for child support.
The administrative assistant is responsible for victims assistance involving property crimes and a new educational program known as Courtrooms To Classrooms.
Kolbe requested the administrative assistant in December, but ran into opposition from council, who questioned whether the prosecutor's office should provide educational services. Some thought it was too similar to DARE, a drug education program operated by police departments.
Courtrooms to Classrooms began this fall in one school and was well received by Warsaw Community Schools, which along with two other school districts planned to expand the program into other fifth grade classes during the second semester.
Prior to the vote, Kolbe cast the decision as one that reflects concerns of the county.
"We define our commitment by the way we spend our money. If you want know the value of a man and what he values, look at his checkbook," Kolbe said.
But council president James Tranter said the decision has nothing to do with its popularity or personalities in the prosecutor's office.
Tranter said the county only has so much money to go around.
Councilman John Kinsey indirectly questioned the role of the prosecutor. "What are our teachers doing? Don't they teach government anymore?" Kinsey asked.
Council had also noted that the prosecutor's office had seen its staff grow faster than any other departments in recent years. With that in mind, Kolbe came armed Thursday with statistics comparing his staff size to other counties of similar size.
The prosecutor's office has 17 full-time employees and serves a population of about 70,000.
According to Kolbe, the prosecutor's office in Floyd County (64,000) has 26 employees, including six part-time workers; Johnson County (88,109) has 31 employees including two part-time workers; Cass County (population 33,414) has 16 employees, including two part-time workers; Grant (74,169) has 24 employees including four part-time workers; Hendricks (population 75,717), has 21 employees, including two part-time workers.
Council had no reaction to the comparison.
Kolbe bristled at the fact that nearly $500,000 will be spent this year on public defenders - more than his total budget.
"They defend some of the cases. I've got to prosecute all the cases," he said.
The assistant's position was paid with incentive money and some grant money. The receptionist was paid with incentive money.
Kolbe said the assistant's position would likely be eliminated rather than transfer funds from other areas.
