June 15, 2017 at 3:26 a.m.
JEMS budget is key
Jay County Council
JEMS budget is key
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
Bottom line, something is going to need to be done with the Jay Emergency Medical Service budget.
During a special session Wednesday prior to its regular meeting, Jay County Council discussed a variety of budget topics including the continued challenges that face the emergency medical service.
In reviewing various sections of the budget, financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz of Financial Solutions Group asked what the initial budget request came in at for the emergency medical service for 2018. The answer, about $1.42 million, is an increase of more than $100,000 over the current year. It also surpasses the $1.334 million Guerrettaz had laid out in his budget control plan, which includes annual 2-percent raises for all county employees.
It’s overages like that, Guerrettaz said, that could make it challenging for the county to be able to give raises to its employees this year. He said the emergency medical service will either need to make cuts, create additional revenue or pull revenue from other funds. He noted that raises can be worked into the budget for 2018, but only if budgets like that of the emergency medical service are kept under control.
“It’s the most critical budget for council at this point in time,” said Guerrettaz.
When looking at budget priorities,council president Jeanne Houchins focused on both Jay Emergency Medical Service and the health department.
“I’d like to see us get those on a better financial level,” said Houchins. “Because they’re good and then they’re down, and then they’re good and then they’re down. I understand all the reasons why that happens, but yet we can’t seem to get them out of that.”
Answers varied when Guerrettaz asked council members Bob Vance, Gary Theurer, Cindy Newton, Faron Parr, Mike Rockwell and Houchins, absent Ted Champ, to rank goals, including boosting the rainy day fund, giving raises and increasing the year-end general fund balance. Setting those priorities will continue to be part of the discussion as council moves forward.
Guerrettaz also advised avoiding additional appropriations as much as possible and called for shifting some spending to the cumulative capital development fund in order to reduce the burden on the general fund.
Council scheduled its next special session to discuss the budget for 5 p.m. July 6. Its next regular meeting will be 7 p.m. July 19, which is pushed back a week to avoid conflicting with the Jay County Fair.
It also reviewed its 2018 budget preparation schedule. Council will meet with department heads in advance and then hold its budget review Sept. 6. A public hearing and first reading of the budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 20 followed by second reading and adoption at the Oct. 11 regular meeting.
In other business, council:
•Reauthorized tax abatements, including for Green Valley Ranch, MinnichPoultry and Arrowhead Poultry. All were found to be in compliance with their agreements.
•Agreed to spend not to exceed $72,000 for improvements at Jay County Retirement Center. The work will include new steel siding for and interior reinforcement of the barn at the center. Hatzell Brothers of Redkey will do the work, which Jay County Commissioners gave their approval to Monday.
Also, council granted the retirement center permission to use a $500 donation toward the purchase of a new rototiller.
•Transferred $2,500 from the prosecutor’s deferral and diversion funds to Dunkirk Police Department. Prosecutor Wes Schemenaur made the request for the funds, which Dunkirk PD will use to start a criminal investigations fund. Funds in the same amount have been provided to Portland Police Department and Jay County Sheriff’s Office in previous years.
•Approved the following additional appropriations: a total of $14,498 to change a part-time secretarial position to full-time in Community Corrections; a total of $128,562 for a new excavator and equipment repair of the surveyor’s department; $5,200 for a new air conditioner for the health department; $22,795.68 for Superior Court to pay for services from Meridian Services; and $2.89 to balance a line item in Community Corrections. The surveyor and infrastructure expenditures had been OK’d at previous meetings, and funding for the Community Corrections secretary comes via a grant.
•Made the following transfers in the Community Corrections Grant fund, all from the educator line item: $4,300 to executive director, $3,000 to deputy director, $2,625 to health insurance, $2,000 to home detention officer and $687 topublic employees retirement fund. Also transferred $51.16 into personal property overtime from wages/clerical for the assessor’s office.
•Heard from Sheriff Dwane Ford that he will be tracking the cost for the sheriff’s office to house inmates from other counties or Indiana Department of Correction. He said the state sheriff’s association is gathering data in order to lobby for an increase in the payment rate, which is set by the DOC.
Ford also told council he will be getting quotes for necessary repairs at Jay County Jail, including the replacement of several pumps.
All Rights Reserved
Bottom line, something is going to need to be done with the Jay Emergency Medical Service budget.
During a special session Wednesday prior to its regular meeting, Jay County Council discussed a variety of budget topics including the continued challenges that face the emergency medical service.
In reviewing various sections of the budget, financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz of Financial Solutions Group asked what the initial budget request came in at for the emergency medical service for 2018. The answer, about $1.42 million, is an increase of more than $100,000 over the current year. It also surpasses the $1.334 million Guerrettaz had laid out in his budget control plan, which includes annual 2-percent raises for all county employees.
It’s overages like that, Guerrettaz said, that could make it challenging for the county to be able to give raises to its employees this year. He said the emergency medical service will either need to make cuts, create additional revenue or pull revenue from other funds. He noted that raises can be worked into the budget for 2018, but only if budgets like that of the emergency medical service are kept under control.
“It’s the most critical budget for council at this point in time,” said Guerrettaz.
When looking at budget priorities,
“I’d like to see us get those on a better financial level,” said Houchins. “Because they’re good and then they’re down, and then they’re good and then they’re down. I understand all the reasons why that happens, but yet we can’t seem to get them out of that.”
Answers varied when Guerrettaz asked council members Bob Vance, Gary Theurer, Cindy Newton, Faron Parr, Mike Rockwell and Houchins, absent Ted Champ, to rank goals, including boosting the rainy day fund, giving raises and increasing the year-end general fund balance. Setting those priorities will continue to be part of the discussion as council moves forward.
Guerrettaz also advised avoiding additional appropriations as much as possible and called for shifting some spending to the cumulative capital development fund in order to reduce the burden on the general fund.
Council scheduled its next special session to discuss the budget for 5 p.m. July 6. Its next regular meeting will be 7 p.m. July 19, which is pushed back a week to avoid conflicting with the Jay County Fair.
It also reviewed its 2018 budget preparation schedule. Council will meet with department heads in advance and then hold its budget review Sept. 6. A public hearing and first reading of the budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 20 followed by second reading and adoption at the Oct. 11 regular meeting.
In other business, council:
•Reauthorized tax abatements, including for Green Valley Ranch, Minnich
•Agreed to spend not to exceed $72,000 for improvements at Jay County Retirement Center. The work will include new steel siding for and interior reinforcement of the barn at the center. Hatzell Brothers of Redkey will do the work, which Jay County Commissioners gave their approval to Monday.
Also, council granted the retirement center permission to use a $500 donation toward the purchase of a new rototiller.
•Transferred $2,500 from the prosecutor’s deferral and diversion funds to Dunkirk Police Department. Prosecutor Wes Schemenaur made the request for the funds, which Dunkirk PD will use to start a criminal investigations fund. Funds in the same amount have been provided to Portland Police Department and Jay County Sheriff’s Office in previous years.
•Approved the following additional appropriations: a total of $14,498 to change a part-time secretarial position to full-time in Community Corrections; a total of $128,562 for a new excavator and equipment repair of the surveyor’s department; $5,200 for a new air conditioner for the health department; $22,795.68 for Superior Court to pay for services from Meridian Services; and $2.89 to balance a line item in Community Corrections. The surveyor and infrastructure expenditures had been OK’d at previous meetings, and funding for the Community Corrections secretary comes via a grant.
•Made the following transfers in the Community Corrections Grant fund, all from the educator line item: $4,300 to executive director, $3,000 to deputy director, $2,625 to health insurance, $2,000 to home detention officer and $687 to
•Heard from Sheriff Dwane Ford that he will be tracking the cost for the sheriff’s office to house inmates from other counties or Indiana Department of Correction. He said the state sheriff’s association is gathering data in order to lobby for an increase in the payment rate, which is set by the DOC.
Ford also told council he will be getting quotes for necessary repairs at Jay County Jail, including the replacement of several pumps.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD