09/13/11 Members of the Marshall County Council spent just less than 5 hours on the 2012 Budget Adoption during their regular meeting Monday.

Budget requests for next year were $10,952,115.  After reviewing each and every one of the 64 funds the council cut $185,051 to end the meeting with a final budget of $10,736,504.  Cuts to 18 different funds including County Clerk – $2,000, Recorder – $1800, Sheriff – $92,773, Jail – $24,000, E 9-1-1 $402, the jail CAGIT – $51,132, Drug Task Force – $8,765, Prosecutor – $10,526, Extension – $1,800, Rainy Day $100,000, Plan Commission – $2000, Building Maintenance – $2,000, Superior Court #1 – $6,000, Superior Court #2 – $32,000, Circuit Court – $5,000, Probation – $29,268, Building Inspector $6,768, and $10,000 from the Cume Bridge fund.

There was quite a bit of discussion whether the recommendation of the County Commissioners to move the Veteran Service Officer from part-time to full-time should be approved.  Council members really didn’t have an issue with the proposed salary of $30,000.  What many members said was that they told department heads and elected officials to not seek new positions.  A couple of motions were made and rescinded as discussions continued.  The motion was finally made to keep the Veterans’ Service Officer as a part time position with a salary of $30,000.  The Commissioners will set the hours he is to work.

County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said of the council’s decision, “It sounds like a good compromise.  Too bad Washington doesn’t do this.”

Marshall County Sheriff Tom Chamberlin laid out his case before the close of the Council meeting.  He told them, “I’m allocating my staff to where services need to be….it’s boots on the ground.”  He explained that he has removed the book keeper from the jail budget at a salary of $29,000 and the line item of $7,000 for emergency deputies from the Sheriff’s budget.  He is also waiting on an agreement with LaPaz to provide police coverage for a fee of $15,000 covering the new deputy cost of $42,000.

Once again, Council members stood their ground of no one hires although they did approve an additional of $15,000 in overtime to help provide police protection to all citizens in the county.

The best news is that all county employees, department heads and elected officials will receive a 2% salary increase in 2012.