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County council concludes 2017 budget hearings

The Huntington County Council concluded its 2017 budget hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

The hearing began following the board’s regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 15, and saw nine departments present on the first day and 15 on the second.

In the probation department, the office equipment line item increased from zero in 2016 to $5,700 for next year to facilitate the purchase of a new copier, explained Heather Malone, chief probation officer. Malone also noted that her deputy probation officer/drug court coordinator line item had gone up to $3,621 from zero, as Desiree Fritcha qualified for the next level of the state’s minimum salary schedule, which is based on years of experience and education.

Coroner Phil Zahm explained that his department’s autopsies line item grew from $35,000 to $50,000 to avoid the need for additional appropriations. Zahm made a cut in his vehicle equipment and repair line item, dropping it from $8,000 to $2,000, as his department had purchased a new vehicle in 2016.

Many of the evening’s presentations featured budgets that closely reflected their 2016 counterparts.

Budget workday hearings are set for Sept. 19, with budget adoption slated for Oct. 24.