County passes $47 million budget

At the Monroe County Courthouse Tuesday, the Monroe County Council passed a $47 million budget, which included a substantial increase for the Office of Family and Children from last year's $8.7 million to $11.4 million.\nThe council also granted an array of appropriations to the justice system, social services and health programs, airport, road and bridge funds, child welfare and programs for juvenile care, law enforcement, general administration, parks and recreation funds, and vehicles and buildings funds. \nThe Office of Family and Children is responsible for Medicare, Child Welfare Services, the Foster Parents program, the food stamp program, and giving aid to families that have children with special health problems in Monroe County. \n"When the state budget makes cuts in certain programs the local government has to compensate for it," said Jeffrey Ellington, the vice-president of the council. "I am disappointed in the state's budget cutback in Medicare and social services."\nThe council exceeded its maximum levy of the Family and Children fund. However, during the meeting it was explained that a statute in Indiana law states that a county council can elect the maximum levy of the Family and Children Fund if the resolution is clear. There is a chance of the state government cutting some of the money allotted to the Monroe County Office of Family and Children.\nIn the 2004 Budget, $12.28 million will go toward child welfare and juvenile care programs. $2.56 million will be allotted to social service and health programs; $8.3 million will go to County administration; $5.4 million will be given to the road and bridge funds; $4.9 million will be allotted to law enforcement. The county justice system will receive $7.6 million; $940,000 will be allotted to the airport; $560,000 is going towards the parks and recreation department. In 2004, the economic development plan will receive $320,000.\nThe money allotted in the Monroe County budget comes from property taxes, miscellaneous revenues such as fines and fees for various county services, county option income tax which is paid out of some people's salaries and excise taxes paid by residents of Monroe County. \nMany issues were raised by the council during the meeting. Sue West, the council's District I representative, addressed the issue of the county employees' salaries. \n"The most valuable asset to a county is its employees and I wish we could have given people a raise," West said. \nAlso discussed at Tuesday's meeting were possible future ways to raise revenue. Potential User fees were suggested by Councilman Scott Wells as a way to address the future problems in raising revenue for the county budget. Trenton Jones, the county council's District II representative, suggested the council continue taking measures to be less wasteful with revenue. Jones gave as an example using e-mail in certain departments instead of spending tax money on stamps which is one of the things taken into consideration this year in several departments of Monroe County's budget. \nThere were mixed reactions from the different members of the council as to how they felt about the 2004 budget. Most of the members had points of contention about certain issues on the budget as is expected in any government meeting. The budget passed not as a unanimous decision but as a compromise. \n"It's not an easy task and of course not everyone is happy but it's a good resolution," Jones said.