Budget approved on first reading

There’s only one more approval left for next year’s county budget.

Jay County Council approved the 2021 budget at about $19,142,602 million on first reading Wednesday, and it will vote to finalize the budget next month.

That budget comes out to about $350,000 more than last year, which county auditor Anna Culy attributes to factors such as the increased police pension, the flyover for the Global Information System and increases to economic development funds and the repair and replace backhoe fund. Even so, she noted there were several lower amounts listed this year.

The county’s general fund came in at $8,665,447.51, which is about $61,000 more than this year.

Some significant increases to the budget include: about $39,500 more in the reassessment fund for aerial photography of the county, about $38,000 more for Jay Emergency Management Services, about $38,500 more in the backhoe and replacement fund, about $28,200 more for the election board, about $31,000 more for the extension office, about $9,000 more for probation officers, about $9,000 more for public safety and about $8,700 more for the auditor’s office to restore county plat books.

Significant decreases include about $82,000 less for bridges, about $14,000 less for the public defender, $10,000 less for Bitter Ridge Wind Farm inspectors (because they have been paid off) and about $9,000 less for the veterans service office.

Another notable increase was for county engineer Dan Watson’s salary. He requested and received an $18,000 raise after the budget review meeting Sept. 3. He cited the Indiana Department of Transportation stipend for $40,000 the county receives for employing a full-time licensed engineer, and he explained most county engineers in the state requested raises as a result.

Jay County Development Corporation also requested and received $30,000 more for its budget next year at the Jay County Commissioners meeting Monday. JCDC executive director Travis Richards and Jay County Community Development director Ami Huffman both gave presentations at the meeting, explaining the organization’s importance to the community.

Culy noted JCDC had not received a budget raise — instead receiving budget cuts — in the last five years.

Council heard from Heath Butz, Jay County Health Department environmentalist and administrator, who answered questions about Watson’s role with the health department. He assisted with sewer projects as well as housing/structural related issues, Butz explained.

Although the role is not in his job description, Watson is paid about $5,000 every year from the health department for providing this service. Council agreed to leave the funding as-is unless a change becomes necessary.

Council also approved the Jay County Solid Waste Management District budget of $287,910.