Budget is approved

The Jay County Council approved the 2012 budget on first reading during a short meeting Wednesday.
Little discussion preceded a unanimous vote to pass the county’s $13,032,113.47 budget.
“All the department heads, they’re not out here wasting money,” council member Mike Leonhard said.
Although the council made no changes to departmental items during budget reviews, it did approve a major wage increase for county employees as it approved a new pay plan structure. The new plan will cost about $500,000 to implement.
The council also voted, unanimously, to freeze the Local Option Income Tax levy, choosing to keep income tax rates the same and cover the levy growth through property taxes. The council selected the same option in 2010.
The council also approved the Jay County Solid Waste District budget of $188,310 on first reading. That budget is about $22,000 higher than the 2011 budget for the organization.
The second reading of the 2012 budget is set for Wednesday, Oct. 12.[[In-content Ad]]