The Marshall County Highway Department will need to find ways to cut additional funds from its operating budget this year.
The county council received word that the Department of Local Government Finance made the decision to reduce $23,406 from the highway department’s budget. The initial decision on how to make those cuts fell on the county council, but Councilwoman Penny Lukenbill urged the governing body to allow Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Highway Supervisor Jason Peters to make those funding reductions as they see fit. The council will review those cuts at their May meeting after they are advertised.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer added comment during the meeting that there was a monetary shortfall in January and in February which leaves the county highway department budget at a loss of approximately $40,000 in funding already this year. Additionally, he said the county will no longer receive $1.4 million from a memorandum of understanding between the county and INDOT regarding the state’s relinquishment of 2.89 miles of road that used to be the U.S. 31 highway through the county. That funding began in 2014 and the county received the last payment this year.
The commissioners took action last week to assist in gathering funds to help with capital costs at the highway department by approving the first reading of an ordinance reestablishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund to its maximum rate of $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation.
The council members urge the residents of Marshall County to contact District 9 State Senator Ryan Mishler (1-800-382-9467) and District 17 State Representative Jack Jordan (1-800-382-9841) to express concerns about road funding. Road funding is the focus of this year’s state legislative session.
