JCDC approves budgets for 2014

Before celebrating the holidays, Jay County Development Corporation’s board of directors made sure it’s budget is in order for next year.
The board reviewed and unanimously approved 2014 budgets for JCDC and Jay County Community Development at a short meeting Wednesday prior to its Christmas party.
The JCDC budget came in at $191,840, which is more than $3,500 less than its 2013 total of $195,424. The JCCD budget of $90,160 was identical to this year’s.
The most substantial cost in both budgets is for salaries for JCDC executive director Bill Bradley, community developer Ami Huffman and administrative assistant Jodi Hayes.
“I appreciate the work that Bill and Ami and Jodi have done to bring budgets that are at or below the current-year budgets,” said board member Pat Bennett, retired president of Portland Forge. “That’s not very common.”
Raises of 2.5 percent were approved for all three employees, but Bradley voluntarily reduced his raise to 1.5 percent.
Other than employee raises, the key increase in the budget was for $7,500 to be set aside for studies. That money can be used to help local communities with studies that may be related to or required for grant applications.
“We think it’s important to be able to work with our various communities with developing and having some money available for studies,” said Bradley.
There were decreases in the budget for postage, equipment/furniture, client development and contractual services. Bradley also reported savings for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, but cautioned that it is unclear how those costs will be effected in 2015.
Bradley noted that JCDC has a nice cushion built into its budget with expenditures projected at less than $192,000 and revenues expected to clear $196,500.
The JCCD budget saw a slight increase in the salary line item because of the approved raises, but that was balanced by cuts in other areas. The organization has budgeted $772.33 for contracted services, such as accountant reviews, compared to $1,800 in 2013, and also shows a reduction of $550 for phone service.[[In-content Ad]]