SBOA disallows money from highway department to general fund
Council to wait for tax rates before making further budget cuts
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Carroll County Council learned at Tuesday morning's meeting the Indiana State Board of Accounts would not allow a transfer of $150,000 from the highway department into the general fund. The measure, initiated by the council and approved by commissioners, was designed to demonstrate additional 2008 income that would aid the county to achieve a $5 million budget, suggested by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF).

It was also learned the county tax rate, issued by DLGF, would be received in a matter of days. The tax information will determine how much in property tax is expected in 2008. That in turn will give the council the bottom-line number of how much there will be to spend in the county general fund for the year.

"We've been trying to hit a moving target," council member Jerry Hendress commented when discussion turned to waiting for the information before proceeding.

"If we waited to learn the tax rate, we'd know exactly what we'd have to work with," council president Nancy S. Cripe said.

Council agreed by consensus to delay further budget decisions until tax rates are received. A meeting will be scheduled when the rates arrive to make the final decisions before submitting the formal 2008 revised budget to DLGF.

Other business

Department heads were invited to appear and address budget reduction questions and concerns. Although many departments were represented, only a few spoke, including Carroll Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Smith and Circuit Court Judge Donald Currie.

Smith explained, with a comparison chart visual aid, how his court could not continue to function with the latest proposed budget reductions. He said superior court would lose a court reporter.

"The council is engaged in mystical thinking," he said as he explained the workload of court staff.

"We aren't dreaming this up," council member Steve Ashby said. "We are struggling as you are. If we don't cut it to $5 million, we're dead in the water."

Council member Rob Baker confronted Smith about the allegation that joint courts would be losing $50,000. He said the salaries for probation office staff would be paid out of user fees instead of from the general fund.

"You still have the money," he said. "It's just been moved."

"I'm amazed at the offices who have tried to work with us," Baker continued. "We're doing this because we have to."

Currie reminded council members the courts have tried to work in conjunction with them as he described what hardships the current round of budget decreases would cause circuit court. He advised his court employs three staff, as it has since 1980.

"I cannot operate the court with two employees," he said. "You're asking me to operate at a level that no other court in the state operates at."

Currie reviewed 2006 cases handled by circuit court, case-type by case-type. After each example, he paused and asked council members if they were willing to forego addressing that type of case in his court.

"Oh come on," Baker exclaimed. "You guys are grand-standing pretty good."

"What services are you asking us to cut?" Cripe asked.

"I'm not asking you to cut any services," Currie retorted before sitting down.

Treasurer Jane Brewington said she needed more money appropriated to the part-time budget to pay extra help during tax payment time. She said if she was not able to hire the usual five workers as she had in the past, taxpayers would have to stand in line when making payments.

Council member Ann Brown suggested taxpayers mail payments to the treasurer's office rather than making a trip to the courthouse, which would ease the need for additional help to wait on them at the window.

Noting that a line of credit would be available to the county by April 29 or 30, Ashby recommended the council pay all outstanding bills out of the cumulative capital improvement fund immediately. He said it was necessary to repay that fund as soon as the line of credit became available. The motion received unanimous approval.

In order to prepare for upcoming budgetary needs, auditor Beth Myers agreed to prepare a spending prediction chart, with information germane to May and June, for the April 29 meeting.

An ordinance for a private donation line item for Carroll Manor will be established. Donations to the Manor will be kept separate from the general fund account.

Ashby announced the company that owns Mulberry Health & Retirement Community is willing to tour and evaluate Carroll Manor.

"This would give us an unbiased opinion of what we have," he explained.

Council members encouraged Ashby to engage a county commissioner to pursue the walk-through.

The next scheduled meeting will be April 29 at 8:30.

A meeting is expected to be set prior to the next meeting date. Readers are encouraged to consult the Comet Web site, click on the "County Government Meetings and Agendas" page in blue on the left side to learn the date and time of the meeting, which will be posted when the information is released to the media.