From the Lafayette Journal & Courier:
Tippecanoe County expects about $38.4 million in revenue in 2013, and department heads have proposed spending about $39.4 million. Obviously, some items are going to get cut.
Auditor Jennifer Weston said Tuesday that she will advertise a maximum amount of money raised by property taxes — the levy — of $30 million, but because of the way local governments in Indiana must operate, she estimated high. Once a maximum levy is advertised, it cannot be increased, which is why Weston and local government financial officers guess on the high side.
For the county, for example, Weston will advertise the general fund levy to be $24 million, but she anticipates the actual general fund levy to be around $20.8 million.
With property taxes and other revenue sources — income taxes, wheel taxes, user fees, interest and other revenue streams — Weston estimates the 2013 budget will spend $38,470,673. Department heads have submitted expenses totaling $39,374,127.
This leaves $903,454 that council members will have to trim from the spending plan during its budget hearings, which are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 11 and last throughout the day. Council members will pick up the work again at 8 a.m. Sept. 12, followed by public comment around 11:30 a.m.
An evening meeting on the county budgets, as well as reviews of other taxing units’ budgets the council must approve, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20.
The plan is to adopt the budget at the council’s Oct. 9 meeting.
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http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012308140056
