A reduction in funds as mandated by the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) will leave the Marshall County Highway Department short in available funds this year.
The Marshall County Council was notified of the reduction at the beginning of April, but decided to hold off on approving the action until Highway Supervisor Jason Peters and Highway Administrator Laurie Baker could review their budget to determine where to make those cuts.
The action was brought before the council again on Monday night. The $23,406 fund reduction obligation from the DLGF will be cut from the highway equipment item in the Motor Vehicle Highway portion of the budget. The council unanimously approved the reduction in funds as recommended by the highway department.
County Commission President Kevin Overmyer previously stated that this will put the highway department behind $40,000 in funding for the year. Council member Heath Thornton said that the county could receive an increase of $1.4 million next year as part of the road funding bill recently passed by the legislature. With the memorandum between the state and the county concerning the relinquishment of the old U.S. 31 roadway to the county, the four-year payment of $1.4 million ceases this year so the increase from the state is not anticipated to help as much next year.
