From the Muncie Star-Press:
Members of the Delaware County Council have been down this road before, but have never reached their destination — long-term financial solvency for the county.
Closing the county building one day a week and reducing employee pay did not stop the flow of red ink. No permanent funding solution has been found for the county sheriff’s pensions. Health care insurance for employees continues to rise while revenue remains stagnant.
County department heads were asked last year to rein in budget requests and not seek increases above 2012’s levels.
And again, council members have their backs against the wall, forcing them to borrow $1.5 million from the rainy day fund to cover payroll and pay routine bills through the month. There might not be enough money to operate government through an expected tax draw in May. That’s a worst-case scenario, however.
Obviously, it’s a serious situation, but it does no good to speculate on what should have been done, point fingers or lay blame.
It's time to have some serious discussions about what the county needs and what it can afford. No department, including public safety, should be off the table in the search for a solution.
It’s a dubious prospect that the county can cut its way to prosperity. Council members tried in the past, with mixed results and less-than-anticipated savings.
The other alternative — one that has not been publicly mentioned — is imposing a local option income tax, which would involve getting city council members on board, since they have the majority control of the Delaware County Income Tax Council.
...
There are no easy or pleasant decisions to be made.
Whatever path the county council chooses, it needs to travel over new ground because the well-worn trail from the past leads nowhere.
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013303140041
