County council approves 2015 budget adjustments, two salary ordinances and several appointments
January 01, 2026 | Steuben County, Indiana
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The Steuben County Council met Jan. 13 and approved a series of 2015 budget adjustments, two salary ordinance amendments and several appointments as part of routine business.
Auditor Kim Koomler presented additional appropriations, reductions and transfers to finalize the 2015 Budget of Appropriations. The council approved the 2015 appropriations as presented. Specific line-item changes discussed included allocations for the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor, Statewide 9-1-1 (including overtime and telecom tech funding), Reassessment (software), and other departmental bookkeeping corrections.
The council also adopted Ordinance No. 862, amending the 2015 Salary Ordinance to rename and reclassify a Communications/E911 Telecommunications Tech/Trainer position and set its budget to $44,541 (motion by Jim Getz; carried 7-0). Ordinance No. 863, adjusting pay for an Advanced EMT (AEMT) position and placing that AEMT on the salary grid at $30,396.50, was approved (motion by Dan Caruso; carried 7-0).
Kim Johnson, Steuben County Assessor, requested reappointment of Bill Rathburn to the PTABOA and asked the council to waive IC 6-1.1-28.1 (the statutory requirement that one PTABOA member be Certified Level 2 or 3). The council approved Rathburn’s reappointment and unanimously waived the certification requirement.
Commissioners reported that the Department of Local Government Finance reduced the Board of Aviation’s certified budget to $85,664 because estimated revenues did not support the submitted budget; council was advised it could consider supplementing the aviation budget from county general fund or CAGIT.
On the LOHUT (local wheel tax), Highway Engineer Jennifer Sharkey and Highway Superintendent Emmett Heller presented information; Kenneth Shelton moved to continue researching the tax and to invite clerk-treasurers from county cities and towns to the February meeting. The motion passed 6-1 (nay: Wil Howard).
Other actions included approval of a $3,000 additional appropriation to the Supplemental Public Defender Fund to pay for administrative reporting (approved 7-0) and the reappointment of Randy Nickols to the Alcohol Beverage Commission (approved 7-0). The council adjourned by unanimous vote.
Auditor Kim Koomler presented additional appropriations, reductions and transfers to finalize the 2015 Budget of Appropriations. The council approved the 2015 appropriations as presented. Specific line-item changes discussed included allocations for the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor, Statewide 9-1-1 (including overtime and telecom tech funding), Reassessment (software), and other departmental bookkeeping corrections.
The council also adopted Ordinance No. 862, amending the 2015 Salary Ordinance to rename and reclassify a Communications/E911 Telecommunications Tech/Trainer position and set its budget to $44,541 (motion by Jim Getz; carried 7-0). Ordinance No. 863, adjusting pay for an Advanced EMT (AEMT) position and placing that AEMT on the salary grid at $30,396.50, was approved (motion by Dan Caruso; carried 7-0).
Kim Johnson, Steuben County Assessor, requested reappointment of Bill Rathburn to the PTABOA and asked the council to waive IC 6-1.1-28.1 (the statutory requirement that one PTABOA member be Certified Level 2 or 3). The council approved Rathburn’s reappointment and unanimously waived the certification requirement.
Commissioners reported that the Department of Local Government Finance reduced the Board of Aviation’s certified budget to $85,664 because estimated revenues did not support the submitted budget; council was advised it could consider supplementing the aviation budget from county general fund or CAGIT.
On the LOHUT (local wheel tax), Highway Engineer Jennifer Sharkey and Highway Superintendent Emmett Heller presented information; Kenneth Shelton moved to continue researching the tax and to invite clerk-treasurers from county cities and towns to the February meeting. The motion passed 6-1 (nay: Wil Howard).
Other actions included approval of a $3,000 additional appropriation to the Supplemental Public Defender Fund to pay for administrative reporting (approved 7-0) and the reappointment of Randy Nickols to the Alcohol Beverage Commission (approved 7-0). The council adjourned by unanimous vote.
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