Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Most of the town's $1.5 million budget was trimmed 5 percent, but the dust hasn't settled yet.
Clerk-treasurer Retha Hicks presented the 2003 budget today during a special meeting to discuss the budget.
Central services, the park department and the motor vehicle and highway budget were cut a little more than 5 percent. However, the police department budget was trimmed 1.6 percent and the fire department budget was increased 4 percent.
The budgets reflect a 3 percent increase in wages.
Most of the police department's expenditures, 92 percent, go toward salaries - $201,571 of the $246,146 budget. The town has five officers.
The fire department's largest increase was listed under training costs, which are mandated by the state. In 2002, $3,500 was budgeted; in 2003, $4,535 is budgeted.
Assistant fire chief Kip Shuter represented the fire department. He said batteries in a lot of equipment also will have to be replaced this year.
He also said nine sets of bunker gear - jackets and pants, at a cost of $1,000 per set - will have to be purchased. The town will pay for four and the township, which pays $16,000 for fire protection, will pay for the remainder.
This anticipated $4,000 expenditure was not listed on the budget.
The town has a contract with Bonar Engineering and Associates for engineering on various projects at a cost of $173,000, and $85,000 has been budgeted in central services for this expenditure.
Travel expenses went up from $2,500 to $4,500.
Insurance costs were increased from $21,600 to $25,000.
Cuts were taken in health insurance, official records and printing costs as well as state loan payments, postage and repair and maintenance.
The board approved selling or trading in three trucks and a tanker truck for the street department toward purchase of a new vehicle.
They also approved an ordinance to establish an accumulative capital development fund, requesting the maximum levy of 5 cents per $100 assessed valuation. A public hearing for the new tax will be July 30 at 8 a.m. The fund would raise $9,500 per year that could be saved for capital improvements.
Town councilmen are Rolly Ortega, David Delp, Jerry Clevenger and Craig Snow and Jeff Carroll.
