Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
If nothing else, at least Superior Court II Judge James Jarrette can say he's direct.
Monday, at the Kosciusko County Council budget hearings, Jarrette presented his 2002 budget request. And this year, instead of combining budgets, Jarrette and Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton presented their budgets separately.
Council vice president Brad Tandy said he was concerned about the two courts having separate budgets. He said he would personally rather see all four judges combine for one budget instead of three separate ones. Judges Rex Reed and Duane Huffer presented their Circuit and Superior Court I budgets together.
Jarrette said the council can't ask for the county treasurer, auditor and recorder to work under one budget. And, he said, the judges have different personalities and concerns which necessitate the judges having their own budgets.
"It makes it more burdensome," said Tandy.
Superior Court II is an individual department and needs its own individual budget, Jarrette said. He said his proposed 2002 budget is padded because, if approved, it will be the first year the two courts have their own separate budgets and as such, he isn't sure how much to budget for the first year.
For this year, the two judges' combined budget was $359,916. Separately, including unapproved salary increases, Jarrette's budget is approximately $232,621 while Sutton's is approximately $210,223. Combined, their budget requests for 2002 total $442,842 - $82,908 more than they received in 2001. However, that figure also includes salary and expenses for a new court secretary/reporter.
"Realistically, each office holder has a right to run their own department with their own budget," said Jarrette.
Regardless of whether the judges have one or three budgets, councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said that doesn't reflect how an office is going to be run.
Council president Jim Tranter said he wanted to table the separate budgets so they could get an opinion from the state as to whether or not the council has to accept two separate budgets. He said one budget is easier because it allows for internal transfers instead of the council having to make additional appropriations should the court need more money.
Jarrette said it is his office to run and he'll do the best he can to run it, but he, not a committee, needs to run his office.
The two budgets were tabled to tonight's 6 p.m. meeting.
In another matter, Reed and Huffer requested two new probation officers. There are currently seven probation officers. The council approved the two new positions and the Circuit and Superior Court I budget of approximately $1.08 million. The adult probation user's fee budget of $40,000 was also approved.
Tonight's budget meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Kosciusko County courthouse. Budget discussions will conclude Thursday at 7 p.m. and the council will also hold its regular meeting.
Members of the Kosciusko County Council are: president Jim Tranter, vice president Brad Tandy, Tom Anglin, Harold Jones, Larry Teghtmeyer, John Kinsey and Maurice Beer.
