Carroll County Council members offered department heads the opportunity to address proposed 2009 appropriation concerns to them directly Monday afternoon. Some department leaders took advantage of the opportunity to present their opinions in person and some wrote letters. Budget figures were confirmed by a handful of department heads who attended the session.

However an announcement from insurance broker Cindy Finkenbinder exemplified the county's financial woes.

Finkenbinder advised it was expected county health insurance costs would rise approximately 47 percent in 2009 if the current benefit package was offered to county employees. It was noted a recent large claim was not factored into the equation which could push the cost even higher for county coverage.

Finkenbinder said some insurance companies would not give a quote to the county due to its claims history. She said some claims were paid for individuals who qualify for Medicare but are not enrolled in the program. Finkenbinder said the provider continues to lose money with the current plan.

"The health insurance issue is going to be awful for the county," council president Nancy Cripe said in a follow-up interview. "I don't see how the county can afford the quote and I don't know how the workers will be able to insure their families."

"This is going to be a huge burden on people," she continued. "We've obviously had some people with unusually large claims."

The issue will be further discussed at an additional meeting set for Thursday.

Health department head Dr. Jordan Dutter complained budget reductions could result in the elimination of the health department. He said current sanitarian Kris Jones is busier in Carroll County than his counterpart in Tippecanoe County because Carroll County has more septic systems than the neighbor to the south. He said the requested salary of $36,884, a slight increase from 2008, was necessary to retain a worker with the qualifications specified in the job description for the position. The council appropriated $31,860 for the position.

Cripe explained the reduction in salary appropriation was to bring the county position more in line with like-counties in population. She said those counties pay sanitarians in the mid to upper $20,000 range.

Dutter countered that the department was unable to secure a fulltime nurse or food inspector due to the low wages.

"There's a potential to not have a health department," he warned.

"I don't think we're out of line for a county of our size," Cripe responded.

Council member Ron Slavens suggested the board of health revise the job requirements to fit the position and the salary available.

Carroll Manor Superintendent Martha Lewis reported she expected the facility to generate more than $300,000 in 2009. She said residential inquiries are on the increase. Lewis said $31,376.51 in donations have been received but not used. She said she expected to tap into the funds to pay end-ofyear bills.

Council members will meet Thursday, Nov. 20, at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the additional information presented and to make final adjustments to the 2009 budget before adoption Nov. 24 at 8:30 a.m.