From the Northwest Indiana Times:
The Porter County Council began its year Tuesday with grim news. Its budget is short by more than $5 million this year and could be in the red by as much as $8 million next year if no action is taken.
The council called on county department heads to find ways to reduce spending or risk having the council make those cuts, which could involve personnel.
"The Camelot years are over," said Council President Dan Whitten, D-at large.
Porter County Councilman Jim Biggs, R-1st, urged an immediate response to the news.
"It's really long overdue," he said.
Councilwoman Karen Conover, R-3rd, suggested sending a letter urging department heads in county government to spend only what is necessary.
Biggs was in the minority in October when he opposed a 2014 budget that exceeds incoming revenue. The budget, which includes $1,000 employee pay raises and nine new jailers needed to open the third pod at that facility, was approved with the expectation of dipping into income tax proceeds and interest on the money generated from the 2007 sale of the county hospital.
It also required the council to decrease the money set aside for health insurance by $2.5 million, which some members predicted would have to be restored later this year.
The budget sessions also failed to come up with a long-term funding solutions for E-911 and the animal shelter, and the county faces many drainage and county building needs. Also not addressed were requests to fund a county-generated plan to create jobs and a proposal to build an education and administration center at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Liberty Township.
The council is hoping a more profitable investment of the county hospital sale proceeds will help alleviate its financial woes. The group is attempting to schedule a meeting with the county commissioners in March to come up with an approach that will attract the unanimous support required.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/county-more-than-million-in-the-red/article_01d20e79-06f8-5b0d-a0f1-22ef361fb2c2.html
