County council approves '09 budget

Ponders highway

funding shortage

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

Randolph County Council Wednesday approved a $16.2 million preliminary operating budget for 2009. The budget is still subject to approval by the state.

The 2009 budget is $3.5 million lower than the 2008 preliminary budget of $19.7 million.

Chief Deputy Auditor Jessica Olson said the State Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) requested that council make approximately $500,000 in cuts from its original budget of $9.2 million. County council sharpened its pencils and found $515,397 in cuts.

Council also heard from Randolph County Highway Supervisor Andrew "Tom" Shannon and assistant highway supervisor Allen Andrews regarding a departmental budget shortage and need for equipment.

Andrews said the highway department needs a road grader as the one it currently has is worn out.

"This is a real need, we're not barking up a tree," Andrews said. "Parts are no longer made for our grader and the junkyard is quickly running out of the necessary replacement parts."

Andrews said the department has also depleted its fuel money and does not have the funding in its budget to pay for this month's fuel. The highway department has increased its fuel budget line item for next year but that won't help them get through 2008.

"We have tried to stretch the budget as far as we can and have now hit a brick wall," he said.

Andrews said he has priced new and used road graders and while a new machine costs from $147,000 to $175,000, a used one likely costs about $85,000. He said the road grader is not used every day, but is needed to improve local roads

"There is a lot of good used equipment available fairly cheap because the poor state of the economy has put some users out of business," he said. "We may be able to get one at auction for about $40,000. We want to be sure we don't buy somebody else's headache."

Andrews said the anticipated shortfall for fuel for the rest of the year is about $35,000 per month.

"We gave you the road tax and we gave you the tipping fee," said Councilman Richard Wise, "I don't see how we can fund the highway department out of the general budget on top of that."

Shannon said when the wheel tax was imposed, a like amount was taken from his budget through the gasoline tax.

"I don't know what tools are available, but all Indiana counties are in the same boat," Shannon said. "We don't want our road conditions to go backwards. We're struggling and we're looking at everything.

"If we can't work at the current rate, something is going to have to be cut - whether it's salting the roads, plowing snow or chipping and sealing roads."

Wise said that while good roads encourage economic development, the county can't spend all its Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) allotment on other things.

"Then when a business needs help to locate here and we can't offer them anything, we're sunk," Wise said.

Andrews said costs have increased dramatically and the department can't continue to provide the same level of service.

"We're looking at options," Shannon said. "We've tried to stretch what money we have. We've done away with some programs (such as maintaining bus turnarounds) but it looks like we'll have to get rid of some big programs."

Wise said one of the reasons for the problem is that Randolph County has a small population for a county with so many bridges and miles of roadway.

"Flat out, you're going to have to cut services," said councilman Alan Orr.

County Auditor David Kelly said he will check with the state board of accounts to see if it is possible for the county to purchase equipment at an auction. Kelly said, according to County Attorney John Tanner, state law requires the county to accept the lowest of three bids for equipment purchases of $0-150,000.

"I think the fuel issue is more important than the grader right now," Orr said. "Especially if you think about the police cars and ambulances involved."

County EMS and the sheriff's department use fuel from the highway department and reimburse them later.

Orr said the highway department may have to reduce the number of trucks it has on the road during snow events this winter. Shannon said a reduction from 19 to eight or 10 plows on the road won't be enough to keep county schools open.

Council approved a motion to move $90,000 for highway department fuel from the rainy day fund.

"Everybody in every county department is cutting corners and trying to do the best they can with what they have," Wise said. "Everybody on the lower end of the totem pole is suffering while the state government is bragging about its surplus. Where did that surplus come from?"

County Council also heard from Randolph County Director of Tourism and Community Development Kirsten Oswalt. Oswalt encouraged council members to attend the Roger Brooks Destination Development Program and Tourism Exhibit Monday, Sept. 15 at the Winchester Community High School Auditorium. The tourism exhibition will begin at 5 p.m. and the presentation by Brooks is at 6 p.m.

Oswalt also gave council copies of the county's visitor and tourism guide which was received from the printer last week.

"It was a huge undertaking," Oswalt said. "It is something that will be useful for some time to come."