Published: September 14, 2007 07:37 pm      

County adopts budget

Final figures to be released early next week.

By KEVIN LILLY

Pharos-Tribune staff writer

After the required second reading, the Cass County Council voted to adopt the 2008 budget Friday morning.

Although final figures won’t be released until next week, preliminary numbers indicate the council shaved nearly $300,000 from the proposed general operating budget.

The council was working off of the 2007 budget, which totaled nearly $12.4 million. At this point, the general fund is at $12.09 milion. During its first reading last week, the council approved cuts of about $284,000.

Cass County Auditor Dawn Conner said she would have to go back and calculate the changes made at Friday’s meeting.

Some departments saw significant cuts while others realized gains. Many county employees will receive raises ranging from 3 percent up to 10 percent. The county commissioners, county council and county attorney are slated to get 3 percent increases in salary. The jail nurse got a 5 percent raise.

The probation department got approval for $25,000 for a new vehicle.

The Cass County Highway Department saw a 26.91 percent increase in its operating budget. Cass County Engineer Jodi Coblentz is set to get a $14,036 raise because she also took on the role of highway director. The highway director’s salary of $34,233 was cut. The highway department also received approval for $75,000 for tractors.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department saw a $105,000 cut for vehicles, which represents most of the money from that fund.

Cass County e911 received a $30,000 appropriation for computers and $10,000 for telephones. Director Lori Forrer is set to receive a 6 percent raise.

Cass Circuit Court received an additional $10,000 for its Court Appointed Special Advocates program to work with children in child welfare cases.

Some county positions were created, and others were dissolved.

The assessor’s office was denied a bid for a new deputy. The prosecutor’s office won approval for continuation of a prosecutor to handle minor felonies. The jail will get another corrections officer.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com



Other significant cuts in 2008 budget after first reading:

• $18,000 for new full-time employee from clerk’s office

• $55,500 for office machines from treasurer’s office

• $10,000 for mental health exams from Cass Superior Court II

• $5,100 for law books from Cass Superior Court II

• $5,500 for supplies, fuel and maintenance from probation department

• $25,000 for program maintenance from IT/Data Process

• $30,000 for computer equipment from IT/Data Process

Source: Cass County Auditor’s Office