Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It's budget workshop time and many nonprofit organizations routinely seek local dollars to support their programs.
Tuesday, representatives from several groups, historically provided with some county tax money, appeared before the Kosciusko County Commissioners. Most asked for more money, citing decreases in federal and state funding.
The commissioners will take the requests to the county council.
A joint commissioner - council budgetary meeting is set for July 26 at 7 p.m.
Gary Lyons, president of Home Health Care; Jean Jones, for the Kosciusko County Historical Society; Jane Green of the Cardinal Center; Jack Felger, executive director of the Council on Aging and Aged; Kosciusko Development Inc. treasurer Jim Tinkey; Jeannie Campbell of the Beaman Home; and Frank Scolet, of the Animal Welfare League, explained their situations before the board.
• Lyons was named president of Home Health Care in November 2000. HHC is asking for $75,000 this year.
Lyons said the agency is operating at a contractual loss of $95,000 due to the number of indigent patients they serve.
HHC renewed their contract with Area II, a government agency that provides services for people who don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid.
"If we eliminated that group we would be a profitable organization," Lyons said.
Lyons said besides county money, HHC is funded through the United Way and the K21 Foundation.
• Jones, director of the Old Jail Museum, represented the Kosciusko County Historical Society in president Mary Ettinger's absence.
Asking for the same amount as last year, $23,000, Jones said the society has two costly projects to consider.
Custom fitted storm windows for the sheriff's residence portion of the museum are planned as well as power washing and masonry repair to the building.
Cleaning the facade, however, has a $26,000 price tag and Jones wasn't sure when it would occur.
• Green of the Cardinal Center asked for $95,000 this year, an increase of $15,000. She said her organization has 450 employees with 300 insured. She said insurance costs account for much of her increase request.
• Council on Aging and Aged Executive Director Felger asked for an increase to $38,000 from $27,500.
"This is my seventh presentation before the commissioners," Felger said. "I always arrive here with really high hopes."
He said transportation costs for the senior center's four vans have gone up dramatically and a raise would help the Mobile Meals program.
He said 14 people are on the Mobile Meals waiting list.
Felger said he also would like to pay employees more.
"There are no fringe benefits," he said. "They pay more at fast food restaurants. One woman, after working there 11-1/2 years, retired with nothing except satisfaction."
• Campbell asked for $34,000 for the Beaman Home. The director said the organization housed 203 families last year who were there 3,421 "days," 900 more than last year.
The Outreach Program counseled 625 families.
She said the house's fire escape needs replaced and the $6,500 increase in funds would be applied to direct services.
• Tinkey, treasurer of Kosciusko Development Inc., said the organization independently raised $11,050 more than last year.
This year the county's match will be $46,750.
• Frank Scolet, of the Animal Welfare League, approached the commissioners asking for a $6,000 increase, bringing the organization's allotment to $66,000.
He asked the commissioners to consider placing full-time employees on the county's group insurance.
County commissioners are Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex.
