Beginning last year, all taxing entities except the school systems are required to submit budgets to the county council for review. Township trustees and representatives of the City of Washington and the towns of Plainville, Odon, Montgomery, Elnora, Cannelburg and Alfordsville were to come before the council during the budget hearings.
The state asked the taxing entities to hold any budget increases to 3.8 percent as their growth quotient. Seven of the 17 taxing bodies had a higher percentage. The council could advise the entities of the problem but the suggestions were non-binding as they have elected boards. The boards of the entities can leave the budgets as submitted or reduce them if they see fit.
The largest increase was from the town of Cannelburg whose budget increased 71.16 percent. The council suggested that the town board remove trash pickup from the budget, thereby illuminating $8,800. They suggested residents pay for their own trash pickup as do citizens of Loogootee. Patsy Lawyer said the state had also suggested that solution, but the town board felt the citizens were paying for the trash pick up through their taxes.
“Every year it gets cut more and more and now we’re to the point where we’re not making it,” she said. “Utility bills have to wait. The contract with the fire department, we haven’t been able to pay this year. The state says the assessed valuation keeps dropping so they cut our budget.”
The council agreed Cannelburg was facing a dilemma.
“Cannelburg has some general problems,” Councilman Ken Solliday said. “They need to start charging people for trash pickup.”
Other townships over the 3.8 percent increase limit were Barr, VanBuren and Harrison and the towns of Alfordsville, Montgomery and Plainville.
Barr Township’s budget increased 24 percent with the biggest jump in burial expenses.
Trustees who did not attend the meeting to discuss their budgets were Amy Holstine from Bogard Township, Sylvia Stafford from Harrison Township, Paul Shafer from Madison Township, Joan Harker from Reeve Township, as well as Angie Shake from the town of Plainville.
Marlin Kelso from Alfordsville said the town’s budget was up 9.27 percent as the town was trying to save some money to blacktop the roads. “We’re working on bare bones,” he said.
Cindy Smith from Montgomery explained the town is doing paving forcing a budget increase of 15.1 percent.
Steve Riggins with VanBuren Township said the budget is up 5.08 percent as they are facing a possible IRS penalty and put the money in the budget just in case.
Councilman Mike Sprinkle recommended that all those taxing entities with a higher than 3.8 percent budget increase be sent a letter from the council advising them to lower their budgets to stay at the 3.8 percent or less. The council agreed.
“They don’t have to listen to us,” Sprinkle said. “But it’s a general blanket.”
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