Council meets quickly in midst of budget hearings

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Only halfway through their extensive annual budget hearings, members of the Putnam County Council convened for a brief version of their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

With one day of hearings down and another to go, the council made quick work of its agenda, which included a number of appropriations and transfers as county departments prepare for the end of the year.

The largest additional appropriation of the evening was $100,000 for county highway resurfacing. The additional money was drawn from the road and street fund.

Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts said the money should get the department through its remaining resurfacing projects in 2014.

The council also approved a $49,000 additional appropriation for parking lot resurfacing at the Putnam County Jail.

Sheriff Steve Fenwick reported that a water main break earlier in the year prompted digging in six different spots of the jail parking lot. Additionally, some of the pavement is 18 years old.

Assessor Nancy Dennis requested and was granted an additional $3,000 for fuel costs in the reassessment department.

The council received a report from Cummins Behavioral Health Systems regarding the use of the county mental health property tax levy for fiscal year 2014.

Between July 2013 and June 2014, Cummins served 847 individuals from Putnam County at a total cost of $698,753. Of this amount, $206,592 was subsidized through property taxes.

Finally, the council appointed Earl Lancaster of Greencastle to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

A report on the 2015 budget hearings will be printed in an upcoming edition of the Banner Graphic.

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