First budget reading OK'd

Despite trepidation over a budget that proposes higher expenses than income, members of the Jay County Solid Waste District moved forward in the process.

The district, which has built up significant reserves in its seven-year existence, has seen income in the form of a district tipping fee decrease over the past six to 12 months. So even though the proposed 2010 budget for the district is about $16,000 less than the current year, a deficit of about $35,000 for the coming year is projected.

"We're likely going to be digging in (to reserves). It's going to be close. We're pulling in the belt now ... we may not be paying bonuses (to not-for-profit groups that staff district drop-off recycling trailers)," district director Kay Hayes told board members Monday.

There was some discussion about trimming the proposed $275,315 budget for 2010. But after assurances from Hayes that she and staffers would carefully watch expenses as the year progressed, board members approved the budget on first reading as presented.

Milo Miller Jr., president of the district board and of Jay County Commissioners, said that with reserves of more than $160,000, the district can afford one year in which it spends more than it receives in income.

"At the end of next year ... we'll know better where we're at," Miller said Monday.

Two cuts discussed but not acted upon Monday were advertising and a $10,000 grant to the Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Board member/Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, along with Portland City Council member Bill Gibson, said the soil and water grant, while important, doesn't exactly fit into the waste district's mandate to promote recycling. But Faron Parr said he sees the waste district's role as "being good stewards of the land."

Members of the board, at Hosier's urging, also requested more specificity from Hayes regarding budget items. A miscellaneous category in the budget contained $20,000. The biggest chunk of that request was $12,000 to help subsidize Portland's curbside recycling program, but Hayes did not recall what other items had been paid for from that fund in the past.

Also Monday during the district's regular monthly board meeting, claims totaling $20,740.30 were approved. Payment of those claims leaves the district with a checking account balance of $63,200.21, and an investment account balance of $102,400.

District tipping fee income for June was $19,593. Virtually all of the district's revenue comes from that fee, which is collected and paid to the district by Jay County Landfill owner/operator Waste Management of Indiana Inc.

The fee is $1.25 per ton. That fee was lowered by 25 cents several years ago. Board members agreed Monday that raising that district fee could be among the options considered if the budget crunch continues into next year.

In other business, members of the board:

•Heard Hayes report that two individuals have been working at district headquarters through the state's IMPACT program. Under that program, individuals receiving public assistance are required to work to earn credits for the assistance. One of the two individuals has been a big help, Hayes said.

•Gave permission for Hayes to have the air conditioning checked in the district's F-150 Ford pickup truck.[[In-content Ad]]