Budget passes 1st reading

Jay County took the next step toward passing its budget quickly and with no public comment.
The 2014 county budget of $15,199,062.63, which includes a county general fund of $6,344,231.30, passed on first reading Wednesday at Jay County Council’s budget hearing. The total budget, which was approved unanimously, is up from last year’s amended total of $14,476,844.47.
Only one member of the public, Robin Alberson, attended the meeting, which lasted about 10 minutes.
Council members Mike Leonhard, Gary Theurer, Ted Champ, Bob Vance, Mike Rockwell, Jeanne Houchins and Cindy Newton will need to pass the budget on second reading at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 for it to become official.
The county general fund, which represents the largest single chunk of the budget, is up about $500,000 from last year’s mark of $5,751,657.10. It includes $1,025,387.12 for operation of Jay County Jail, $987,321.88 for county commissioners and $907,472,18 for the sheriff’s department.
The other lines of the budget that clear the $1 million mark are for the highway department at $2,781,000, local option income tax (LOIT) at $1,308,000 and Jay Emergency Medical Service at $1,215,389.17.
Council also performed its non-binding review of the budgets of other governmental units in the county, including the six incorporated communities, Jay School Corporations, all townships, local libraries and Jay County Solid Waste District. There were no comments or suggestions for changes from the council.
The only note coming out of the review was that Jay County auditor Nancy Culy said Bearcreek Township did not meet the deadline to turn in a proposed 2014 budget to the state. The township will therefore revert to its 2013 budget numbers.[[In-content Ad]]