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County budget adoption comes with uncertainty
While the 2023 Putnam County budget is approved and sent to the State of Indiana, officials are certain all will not go as planned in 2023.
During its October meeting, the Putnam County Council adopted next year’s budget at $20,860,805.
The adopted tax levy will be $6,378,084, with a property tax rate of 48.4 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Jacque Clements, the contractor who assists the county with the budgeting process explained that the numbers being adopted are $16,000 over levy, which is normal knowing that the Department of Local Government Finance will make cuts.
While the county budget is divided into 13 different funds, just five play into the tax levy — County General-$4,723,561 (.3676 rate), Reassessment-$184,296 (.0143), Cumulative Bridge-$831,342 (.0550), Health-$412,155 (.0321) and Cumulative Capital Development $226,730 (0.150).
Considering other revenue sources and cash on hand, the adopted budget is largely made up of the General Fund at $10,690,797, Highway at $4,761,754 and Cumulative Bridge at $1,107,954.
Other funds in excess of a half million dollars include Emergency Ambulance Services ($954,875), Public Safety Access Point-Operating ($719,600), Local Road and Street ($700,000), Emergency Telephone System ($664,210) and Health ($537,771).
Other funds listed in the 2023 budget include Reassessment, Cumulative Courthouse, Animal Shelter, Cumulative Jail and Cumulative Capital Development.
The budget was approved by a quorum of the Council that included Danny Wallace, Keith Berry, President Dave Fuhrman and Vice President Stephanie Campbell.
Fuhrman, however, admitted that uncertainty over costs would certainly cause strains next year.
“The budget this year is wishful,” Fuhrman said. “We know it’s probably going to get busted somewhere,” adding that it would likely be fuel or utilities.
Councilmen Jay Alcorn, Larry Parker and Phil Gick were not in attendance.
The council also adopted the 2023 budgets for Greencastle Community Schools, Putnam County Regional Airport, West Central Solid Waste and the Roachdale, Walnut Creek and Floyd Township fire districts.
In current business, the Council also dealt with rising costs, such as in approving requests from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
With food costs up dramatically, Sheriff Scott Stockton and Matron Tresha Clearwaters informed the board that $60,000 would be taken from the commissary fund to cover food costs. It’s an allowable use of the commissary money, but the amount prompted the PCSO officials to inform the Council.
Meanwhile, $19,000 was taken from the equipment fund to pay for vehicle maintenance for PCSO. The Council gave unanimous approval.
Likewise, the Council granted a $45,000 additional appropriation for fuel.
In other business:
• No decision was made regarding a local income tax (LIT) to help fund Putnam County EMS. Chief Kelly Russ is hoping to get the additional funding source approved for her department.
She noted that two paramedic positions were open at the time, and response times have been slightly longer.
“We can’t get anyone to work, and we’re losing people to money,” Russ said.
• The Council approved continuing its regular meeting date and time – the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.