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Co. Council sets budget workshops





Carroll County Council members gave themselves extra time this year to develop the 2018 budget and wade through the many issues they currently face with the county’s financial situation and the uncertainty in the auditor’s office. The decision when to schedule budget deliberations and other related meetings was made at the Monday afternoon meeting during a discussion about the Council’s need to hire a separate administrative assistant for the budget work.

Council member Ann Brown stated, because of the recent death of the county auditor, whoever is chosen next by the Republican Party for the position, will most likely be inundated and overwhelmed with the normal workload. She said preparing a next year’s budget is time consuming. Brown advised it would be unwise to expect someone new in the position to have the time necessary to meet with the Council at least five full days, in addition to their normal business meeting.

Brown said she understood from Commissioner John Brown, Commissioners may hire the person already employed by them through the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) to help with budget preparation. She said it will cost $250 each day she works with the Council outside of her work in the Auditor’s office. Brown suggested former Council member Jim Hancock, who was in the audience, might be interested in helping.

Council President Jason Scott told the group he has been a party to three budget cycles and each time, there was a new auditor. He said each one has a different way to manage the task, which, Brown said, is the responsibility of the Auditor.

Council member Melinda Rossetter asked Brown to talk with various people about the position and discover their costs to the county. It is expected the council will determine how to proceed for the 2018 budget work at the next meeting. Proposed budgets are due to the auditor’s office by June 15. The Council will meet with department heads on Aug. 3 to understand from them why they have made their requests.

The Council will hold budget deliberations on Aug. 10, 17, and 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m., to determine the appropriate funding for each department, line item by line item. It is expected the deliberations will last at least eight hours each day. Departments will be given the Council’s decisions on Aug. 30 and will meet with the Council Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. to discuss their proposed budgets.

A public hearing will be held Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. to receive input from those outside of county government and the Council will commence their regular monthly meeting the same day beginning at 4:15 p.m.

Budget adoption is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. The 2018 Salary and Wage Ordinance will also be adopted at that time.

Hartman & Williams contract

Brown said, after working with the person sent by Hartman and Williams to bring about a positive Indiana State Board of Accounts county financial audit for 2016, she discovered the contract for the service is limited in scope. She said Commissioners approved the document and the person currently working in the office is not able help the county rectify financial mistakes and situations other than those which happened in 2016.

In a related matter, Brown said she discovered checks have been written this year from line items which do not contain funds appropriated by the Council, as is required by statute. She said $45,000 was given to the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and a portion of the back pay to the jailers, deputies and dispatchers for longevity reconciliation was paid, both without an appropriation.

“If we don’t get this straightened out, we will have to change the H&W contract or hire someone else,” Brown said. Other business

County Treasurer Beth Myers reported settlement and the disbursement of tax revenue will be finished by June 30. Disbursement will include all major taxing entities, including but not limited to, school corporations, towns, townships and the City of Delphi. She said $9,313,366.12 in tax revenue has been collected as of the end of May.

A discussion about offering merit bonus pay to employees was postponed until budget deliberations.

Council members agreed to provide a financial letter of support for the county to participate in the next round of Community Crossroads road improvement grants.

A $6,000 transfer for ordinance enforcement in the Commissioners budget was approved.

A $700 transfer request from Community Corrections Director Keyna Everett was approved.

No action was taken on $4,900 total in transfer requests from the Area Plan Commission’s (APC) Zoning Administrator Doug Wagner to supplement the part-time line item in the office’s budget. It was noted the Council was assured by an APC member Wagner would be able to take care of the office when they agreed initially to pay him $45,000 per year.

Council member Carol Clawson reported County Commissioners have only claimed approximately $600 against a $22,000 grant from the Indiana Northwest Solid Waste District and nothing from another $10,000 grant from the same entity.

The next meeting will be July 10 at 3 p.m.



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