SHOALS — The Martin County Council passed its 2009 budget Monday and Tuesday but did not look at other services in the county that get tax money.

The council did not look at the budgets for the towns of Shoals and Crane, the City of Loogootee, its townships and libraries in Shoals and Loogootee because some were only turned in on Friday, not the required 15 days prior to the council meeting.

There was confusion from many sources on when budgets from cities and townships should be turned in. Noel Harty, Perry Township trustee, who was turning in his budget, said he understood townships do not have to turn in theirs until the end of September.

As part of the state’s property tax reform package, all taxing entities within a county, other than schools for 2008, have to submit their budgets to the council for review.

The council, which has until Dec. 1 to review the budgets, said it will look at the budgets at its next meeting on Oct. 6.

One budget the council discussed and asked to see again was the Solid Waste District, particulary the Martin County Recycling Center. The center receives about $117,000 in county taxes but, according to council members, has a reserve of $500,000.

The solid waste district and the recycling center will be asked to appear at the next council meeting.

“Unless we get these folks in here and talk to them, how do we know what they need?” council member Floyd “Lonnie” Hawkins said.

While most of Monday’s two-hour meeting was devoted to the budgets of other towns, the council passed two readings of its own budget. The proposed tax rate for 2009 will be .65965 for every $100 of assessed value. For 2008, the proposed rate was .5913, but was lowered to .3417 by the state.

In the 2009 budget, county employees will receive a 3 percent raise in pay, and part-time employees will get a 50-cent per hour increase. Also, county employees not on the county health insurance plan will get $1,500 that would have been put toward its health savings accounts. The original figure of $3,500 was in error.

To make up for losses due to property tax reform, the county had to cut $500,000 from its budget. Highway Department Superintendent Darrell Courtright said his crew appreciated the raise when salaries could have been the first cut.

“I wish we could have done more,” Courtright said. “I know you all do too, but thanks on behalf of my guys.”

In other business

Highway

Appropriations

The county highway department asked for and received two additional appropriations. The first, $29,808, was for road signs. The second, $9,938, was for bridge inspections.

The county has already have been reimbursed both amounts from the state. Courtright said to buy more signs, the county must purchase them first and the state will further reimburse.

Appointment

Council member Lynn Gee was appointed to serve as the council’s representative to the newly-formed Local Economic Development Organization. The organization is being formed to create an economic development corporation in the county.

Gee’s term is for one year.