Security at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus could be upgraded under a plan the Bartholomew County Council will consider next month.
The Republic file photo
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Bartholomew County Council is being asked to spend $67.4 million next year – $8 million more than this year for the 2024 county budget.
“Bartholomew County has sufficient estimated revenue to approve all financial requests,” county auditor Pia O’Connor said as the council’s annual budget discussions for the following year got underway this week. Requested expenses for 2024 are $35,752,335. That is $5,650,522 higher than this year, she said.
The most costly proposed expense is nearly $7 million to pay off the bond for the Bartholomew County Jail expansion.
The second highest item is the $2 million needed for long-sought exterior repairs to the county courthouse, council President Jorge Morales said. Federal funds obtained through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) can be used at the courthouse.
It’s currently estimated that the property-tax supported General Fund for Bartholomew County will have a cash balance of $28,710,007 at the end of this year. As of June 30, 2023, the Rainy Day fund (or cash reserves) contained $10,222,475.
A consensus was taken this week indicating the council will support a 4% across-the-board wage increase for non-elected employees next year. There was also a request that the council allocate an additional $453,560 to allow first-year merit deputies to earn a minimum $70,000 annually.
But there will be no formal votes on any budgetary proposals until the council hears from every department and understands how much money they will have to work with in 2024, Morales said.
Four elected office-holders – County Treasurer Barb Hackman, County Recorder Tammy Hines, County Assessor Ginny Whipple and O’Connor – made a presentation Monday proposing a 6% raise for elected officials. If approved, the cost would add $411,987 to next year’s budget.
Elected department heads didn’t receive the 3% increase give to other employees early this year, the four office-holders said. They also spoke about greater technical skill and ongoing education required from each office holder to carry out their responsibilities. There are also instances where appointed employees are getting paid more than their elected supervisors, the four women said.
In the past, elected officials have rarely talked about giving themselves raises out of concern about their constituents’ reaction. But council member Mark Gorbett emphasized the four women are likely to retire from local politics in the near future, and the proposed 6% hike is an effort to attract quality, qualified and experienced candidates to run for those positions and keep county government in competent hands.
But all salary requests are merely starting points that can be adjusted up or down until the budget is finally adopted in mid-October, Gorbett said.
For the complete story, see Thursday’s Republic.
