Debbie Blank
Franklin County’s 2010 advertised budget totalled $13.35 million, including $7.14 million in the general fund.
In reality, the council will have fewer dollars with which to operate county services. The general fund actually will contain around $5.75 million next year, down from this year’s $5.9 million, reported Auditor Susan Jones.
Council President Hollie Maxie, West College Corner, is not happy about the state of county finances. “It seems like it was harder to cut this year. We’re not adding anything. All we’re doing is cutting, cutting, cutting each year.”
The county gains $500,000 from the city of Lawrenceburg’s riverboat dollars annually, but now that Ohio voters have given the nod to riverboats, she worries that action will lessen Hoosier gaming profits. “Is that going to have an effect on our revenue?” She also pointed out Dec. 15 that because some county residents lost their jobs during the recession, Economic Development Income Tax money could decline as well.
In the future, “are we going to have to tell people we don’t have a service because the revenue is not there?”
There is a new tax rate included in the budget after the Franklin County Public Library District added six townships. Taxpayers in Bath, Springfield, Whitewater, Highland, Butler and Salt Creek townships will notice a slight rise in their bills. However, persons living in Ray, Batesville and Oldenburg townships, who already pay a Batesville Memorial Public Library tax, “won't be getting this new tax,” Jones said.
The council approved employee changes Sept. 22. A new assessor’s deputy will be added, funded by reassessment dollars. A part-time prosecutor’s secretary will become full time Jan. 1 with the pay coming from court fees. In the sheriff’s department, the same person who worked part time transporting inmates and also serving papers will attain full-time status.
In the general fund, capital outlays were slashed from $179,100 to $4,100. What won’t get purchased next year? Sheriff Dale Maxie requested two vehicles for deputies, but both were removed from the budget, Jones reported. The sheriff may ask that they be funded from the cumulative capital development fund, which has earmarked $61,000 for equipment; or from the $58,000 rainy day fund. A copier for another office probably will be funded by CCDF.
Roads and bridges will receive by far the biggest piece of the county’s budget pie. Several different funds total $3.24 million.
The county will pay about $700,000 for employees’ health insurance, up from $605,473 in 2008.
The government center renovation is costing taxpayers $421,185 annually through 2021, according to the auditor.
The health department’s budget is up slightly from 2009 to $202,854, but less than the advertised $218,461.
One of the funds that took the greatest hits was for parks. Advertised at $239,312, it was cut down to $172,491.
The council has allocated $149,112 for the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, a $3,000 increase.
The Franklin County Economic Development Commission fund stands at $79,942, $13,760 less than what was requested, but still greater than this year's $76,827.
Other outside entities that provide services to citizens will get some county dollars.
Community Mental Health Center will receive its requested $79,000.
Franklin County EMS leaders asked for $75,000 to boost its projected budget of $437,380, but will receive $50,000, up from 2009's $38,750 and equal to the amount gained in 2008.
Franklin County Public Transportation will get $35,000, up from this year's $32,500.
The Franklin County 4-H Fair will hold steady at $4,500, lower than the requested $4,950. However, money for fair premiums and expenses will rise to $2,200 from $2,000.
Safe Passage, the five-county domestic violence shelter based in Batesville, will get $2,000, the same as was allotted for the past two years, but lower than the requested $6,180, which is the average cost of one family at the shelter, board President Nancy Marticke, Batesville, explained by letter.
The auditor had one bit of good news for budget-minded citizens. Because county officials have met all Indiana Department of Local Government Finance deadlines, property owners should have the customary tax bill due dates, May 10 and Nov. 10, instead of payments bunched closer together.
When the council was informed by DLGF $379,000 more needed to be eliminated, it voted Dec. 8 to cut $148,600 that hadn’t been used in the 2009 general fund plus $230,400 from a 2010 contingency fund established as a cushion a few years ago, Jones said.
Persons with questions about next year’s budget may attend a public hearing led by DLGF Indianapolis officials at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, in Room 101 of Brookville’s government center.
