As Allen County Council
prepares to tackle the county's 2013 budget, the outlook may be a matter of
perspective.
Initial projections
indicate that Council will have about $1.5 million less to spend in its general
fund next year than its estimated 2012 expenses of $85.4 million – if it is
willing to take $1.5 million from its rainy day fund.
A tall order, perhaps,
but not nearly as daunting as last year's challenge, when council originally
imposed an across-the-board 7 percent cut to offset an anticipated drop in
revenue.
…
According to Auditor
Tera Klutz, the county can expect to receive about $81.13 million in general
fund revenue next year. That includes about $49.24 million in property taxes
(up 2 percent from this year) and $31.88 million in other revenues, mostly
income taxes.
The difference between
that total and this year's anticipated spending is about $4.3 million, but that
would be reduced by $1.1 million earmarked last year for 2013 employee benefits
and by paying three Department of Planning employees with income taxes instead
of general revenues.
There's no guarantee
Council will agree to tap the rainy day fund, however. Last year, in fact,
Klutz recommended tapping the fund for $4.5 million in an effort to close the
projected $5.8 million shortfall. Council eventually opted for larger cuts
instead, but some of that spending was restored in subsequent budget hearings.
…
Klutz planned to present
her budget projects to Council Thursday. Adoption is expected in October.
