Bartholomew County Council members have cut $1.1 million from the 2022 general fund budget.
Total property tax funds anticipated for 2022 will be $22.28 million — up from the $20.92 million received this year, county auditor Pia O’Connor said. The difference is an additional $1,355,021. This increased property tax revenue is due, in part, by a 4.3% increase in the growth quotient, a formula used to calculate the annual growth in tax levies, O’Connor said.
When it comes to local income tax revenue, there will be a revenue reduction in 2022. It will drop from $20.64 million this year to $18.8 million next year — a total reduction of $1,831,795.
After both funds are combined, the total comes to a $476,774 revenue reduction.
But that doesn’t include miscellaneous revenue (reimbursements, grants, etc.) totaling nearly $2 million, federal money from the American Rescue Plan that will provide $8.2 million in COVID-19 relief before May of next year, as well as a reserve (“Rainy Day”) fund that now totals almost $6 million.
Within the cuts are decisions made about personnel for the county’s Information Technology department. IT director Scott Mayes had requested three new skilled technicians, but the council approved only one to be hired after Jan. 1. Members did indicate a willingness to hire a second IT employee during the last half of 2022.
Mayes had told the council he has a list of 44 new IT projects, as well as the development of five large and complex strategic initiatives.
“We are just hammered to the point where we can’t entertain all of those in a timely manner,” Mayes said in early August.
County officials say the demands on the IT staff are so large that employees find it extremely difficult to take off work for any reason. Council member Matt Miller said he will confer with Mayes to see if any solutions to the heavy workload problem can be worked out.
The council also denied a request to add two new lieutenant positions for the sheriff’s patrol division. They also cut back on a request for seven new cars or trucks down to five new patrol vehicles. Of the seven new radios requested, only five were approved.
Approval was given to add a new lieutenant at the Bartholomew County Jail, as well as two new security officers at the county courthouse. The council also voted to provide an additional $95,000 to increase mental health care at the jail, so it will be available 40 hours a week — up from the current eight hours, jail commander Maj. John Martoccia said.
For the ASAP Jail Addiction program, the council approved an increase in the program coordinator’s salary, as well as a request to combine two part-time addiction specialists into one full time employee. Jail officials said they were unable to find qualified specialists who are willing to work part-time.
Other reductions
Council members are delaying a decision on a request from the Bartholomew County Health Department for two new vehicles. A proposal to promote a part-time nurse to a full-time position is also on hold until confirmation is received that federal COVID relief funds will pay the extra financial burden.
While the council approved a proposal from O’Connor’s office for a grant administrator, they also denied the auditor’s request for a human resources administrator.
After hiring Rich Day early last year as the first-ever Bartholomew County Parks Superintendent, council members expressed a reluctance to provide a raise to county park board members.
One part-time nursing position requested for the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center was also denied, as well as the proposed position of program director for the “Family Connections” program.
County Assessor Ginny Whipple was denied her request for a new vehicle and a contractual worker, although she was given permission to hire a second deputy assessor. Whipple was also provided an additional $30,000 for legal and other expenses related to the Bartholomew County Property Tax Board of Appeals.
Council members provided a number of reasons for the cost-cutting.
Council members Evelyn Pence and Jorge Morales said they want to set aside more than $2 million to making larger payments that will pay off a $25 million jail renovation bond faster than anticipated. Other council members want to have more than $1 million set aside, so that additional raises can be given if they are justified by an ongoing salary study.
Caution about excessive spending was also expressed due to the current environment of COVID-19, rising inflation and what some fear might be a substantial rise in federal taxes.
When all those factors are put together, it can create a fear of the unknown, two-term councilman and former two-term sheriff Mark Gorbett said.
“Political posturing might be a little part of the mix, but I think our most conservative council members are reverting back four or five years ago when the county was very tight on money,” Gorbett said. “They don’t want to get back in that predicament. Nobody saw COVID coming, and I think these members want to plan for unknown variables.”
The council is scheduled to have a preliminary first-reading vote on next year’s budget at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Final reading and adoption is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
