With number crunching beginning next week, funding requests for Bartholomew County government’s 2025 budget currently totals $73.6 million – up from $67.8 million approved for this year and $57.5 million allocated in 2023.
On Monday, the Bartholomew County Council will begin their annual week-long process of meeting with each county department head, questioning funding proposals and making what they feel are needed reductions.
Budget presentations will be held each afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. and conclude on Thursday if all goes as expected. Unless the council deviates from its normal schedule, the 2025 spending plan will be up for an initial, first-reading vote on Sept. 9, while the final second reading will take place Oct. 14. Regular council meetings begin at 3 p.m. in the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building at Third and Franklin streets.
Current projections provided by county auditor Pia O’Connor call for $38.9 million in revenue from the property tax-supported General Fund – nearly $3 million more than this year. Most of the additional revenue originates from home-ruled funds generated by local income tax (LIT) revenue, grants, fees and other miscellaneous forms of income.
But O’Connor emphasized the $22.3 million currently listed as LIT revenue is only an estimate.
“We should get the actual numbers from the state in late September,” O’Connor stated.
In recent years, some higher spending can be attributed to the $16.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds received through the federal American Rescue Plan. While ARP dollars can only be used for specific purposes, local officials say the federal money did free up a considerable amount of conventional funding.
All ARP funds have already been earmarked for specific purposes, and must be spent by the end of 2026.
The council has asked department heads to request 3% raises for employees, which adds up to an additional $463,207 from the general fund. But council president Jorge Morales says the amount of the pay raises will likely be altered as the county’s overall financial situation becomes clearer.
An example of how quickly things can change took place during the council’s Aug. 12 meeting. O’Connor’s office had already factored in a salary increase for public defenders in written budget presentations distributed to council members.
During the meeting, Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton addressed what he called “a critical attorney shortage.” Worton and Superior Court 2 Judge Jon Rohde are asking that each public defender have their contracts increased from $51,000 to $65,000 next year.
The judge also asked that public defenders, whom he described as part-time contract workers working full-time case loads, be given an option for county health insurance, as well as group malpractice insurance.
In response, the judges were told the Bartholomew County Commissioners determine who is eligible for benefits, while the council cconsiders salary increases.
The largest expense in the general fund is being requested by the council itself. Members are seeking $2.5 million to fund what they refer to simply as “future projects.” While Morales said one project might include a new Bartholomew County Youth Services Center, the council president stressed the money being sought has not been earmarked for any particular purpose at this time.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, which recently entered into an almost $1 million annual contract to provide 24/7 medical care at the jail, is seeking $1,336,593 from the General Fund to offset correctional fund expenses paid out of the LIT fund.
Sheriff Chris Lane is also requesting $213,350 next year to increase pension contributions from the General Fund, as well as $180,320 for new vehicles, bulletproof vests and Tasers.
The seven-member council is seeking to increase its salary to $16,464 for each member annually, while the three-member board of commissioners want their compensation increased to $60,559 a year.
The commissioners are also seeking $800,000 to build a new salt barn at their highway garage near Petersville. That’s twice the amount taxpayers paid in 2016 for the same type of structure at the former highway garage on State Street.
