Kosciusko County Council got down to the work of constructing a budget for 2008 this week.
The council reviewed budget proposals from each county department Monday and Tuesday.
The numbers approved this week will give the county a starting point for figuring what the actual budgetary needs will be in 2008 and proposing tax rates.
"These are preliminary hearings," said Council President Harold Jones. "We really don't know how much money we'll have to appropriate. We really don't know what's going to happen with property and income taxes yet."
Despite the uncertainty, Jones said he is happy with what he's seen of this year's budget requests. "These people have done a really good job with preparing their budgets this year," he said.
One of the council's main challenges this year will be finding funds for increasing highway department costs. High oil prices have lead to increased material costs and higher costs for fueling the department's vehicles.
"The highway department is getting low on funds," said Jones. "But, we really don't know where to look. The whole department out there is pretty much based on fuel."
Jones said the county is beginning to benefit less from gas tax revenues than in the past because people are driving vehicles that get better gas mileage than the ones they drove in the past.
The council passed a 2.5 percent raise for all full-time county employees Tuesday by a 5-1 vote. Councilman Tom Anglin voted against the 2.5 percent raise. Anglin said he preferred setting a flat dollar amount raise for all employees. He said a flat raise would avoid increasing the gap between the higher and lower county salaries.
The council also voted 5-1 to increase the hourly wage 3 percent for part-time county employees. Currently, the minimum hourly wage for county employees is $8.50 per hour. Anglin voted against the motion.
The council will give preliminary approval for the budget at a public hearing Thursday. But, before they do, they will have to tie up several loose ends from Monday's and Tuesday's meetings.
Portions of six township trustee/assessor budgets have not been passed. At Tuesday's meeting, 12 township trustees requested money to pay part-time employees for extra work days be added to their budgets. The trustees told the council their work load has increased since 1995, the last time the county approved additional days be added to the trustees' budgets. The trustees said they needed the part-time help in order to file all their townships' assessments on time as well as keep up with their trustee duties.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said he does not think the trustee/assessors need all of the extra days they requested.
The council was able reach compromise deals with six of the trustee/assessors, granting a smaller number of extra days than requested.
The council voted on several motions to act on the requested extra days, but were unable to reach the required five affirmative votes needed to pass proposals for Clay, Etna, Franklin, Harrison, Lake and Seward townships.
The council will revisit the issue at Thursday's hearing. The council also will review the wages of each county employee and each line item in the county's budget.
Thursday's hearing is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the old courtroom of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
