September 3, 2020 at 4:35 p.m.
Council reviews budget
Total shows 2.4% over current year
Council reviews budget
The 2021 budget continues to move forward.
Jay County Council on Wednesday reviewed next year’s budget of nearly $19.3 million with county officials. The budget, which was advertised as $19,274,538, has increased by about 2.4% from this year’s total of $18,819,035.
Some of the budget increases discussed at the meeting Wednesday include $31,600 added to the police pension and a $17,245 raise for the county engineer.
Sheriff Dwane Ford was not in attendance to discuss the police pension increase, but county auditor Anna Culy explained that several recently retired former sheriff’s office employees are pulling from the pension now.
County engineer Dan Watson approached the council and talked about the Indiana Department of Transportation stipend for $40,000 — which jumped last year from $20,000 — for any county that can prove it employs a full-time licensed engineer. He noted most county engineers requested raises last year as a result of the stipend.
Compared to seven rural counties in the northeast district, Watson said, his yearly wage is the lowest. The average wage increase for those engineers was about $18,000, he added.
Council member Jeanne Houchins said the personnel committee recommended hiring a second security guard for the courthouse to allow the current full-time guard more flexibility for lunch and breaks. The budget displays $48,000 removed from the part-time courthouse security wages and $39,438 added to the full-time courthouse security wages.
Houchins also noted that longevity for government employees will be temporarily frozen this year for any worker making more than a $2,000 longevity bonus.
She added that part-time wages will stay the same as full-time wages for government employees in the civilian protective occupations or law enforcement (jail workers, dispatchers, EMTs and paramedics) and labor, trades and crafts categories (mostly cooks, housekeepers, heavy equipment operators and truck drivers).
Other increases discussed by council members include $8,500 to the auditor’s office to restore plat books, $730 to the assessor’s office for data maintenance and $682 to the public defender’s office for its secretary.
Houchins pointed out that the community corrections budget for wages decreased by about $14,000. Community corrections director Yvette Weiland explained that the department didn’t reapply for a grant it had received, so it eliminated two part-time positions and she took over their roles. She noted there were fewer individuals in the program as well.
Council members Faron Parr, Gary Theurer, Mike Rockwell, Amy Barrett, Cindy Newton and Houchins, absent Ted Champ, voted to move forward with the budget.
Jay County Council on Wednesday reviewed next year’s budget of nearly $19.3 million with county officials. The budget, which was advertised as $19,274,538, has increased by about 2.4% from this year’s total of $18,819,035.
Some of the budget increases discussed at the meeting Wednesday include $31,600 added to the police pension and a $17,245 raise for the county engineer.
Sheriff Dwane Ford was not in attendance to discuss the police pension increase, but county auditor Anna Culy explained that several recently retired former sheriff’s office employees are pulling from the pension now.
County engineer Dan Watson approached the council and talked about the Indiana Department of Transportation stipend for $40,000 — which jumped last year from $20,000 — for any county that can prove it employs a full-time licensed engineer. He noted most county engineers requested raises last year as a result of the stipend.
Compared to seven rural counties in the northeast district, Watson said, his yearly wage is the lowest. The average wage increase for those engineers was about $18,000, he added.
Council member Jeanne Houchins said the personnel committee recommended hiring a second security guard for the courthouse to allow the current full-time guard more flexibility for lunch and breaks. The budget displays $48,000 removed from the part-time courthouse security wages and $39,438 added to the full-time courthouse security wages.
Houchins also noted that longevity for government employees will be temporarily frozen this year for any worker making more than a $2,000 longevity bonus.
She added that part-time wages will stay the same as full-time wages for government employees in the civilian protective occupations or law enforcement (jail workers, dispatchers, EMTs and paramedics) and labor, trades and crafts categories (mostly cooks, housekeepers, heavy equipment operators and truck drivers).
Other increases discussed by council members include $8,500 to the auditor’s office to restore plat books, $730 to the assessor’s office for data maintenance and $682 to the public defender’s office for its secretary.
Houchins pointed out that the community corrections budget for wages decreased by about $14,000. Community corrections director Yvette Weiland explained that the department didn’t reapply for a grant it had received, so it eliminated two part-time positions and she took over their roles. She noted there were fewer individuals in the program as well.
Council members Faron Parr, Gary Theurer, Mike Rockwell, Amy Barrett, Cindy Newton and Houchins, absent Ted Champ, voted to move forward with the budget.
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