The Hamilton County Council concluded day one of its 2020 budget hearing on Tuesday.

The 2020 county budget, expected to be just under $100 million, includes a 3 percent pay raise for county employees.

Beaver

Council President Brad Beaver in a statement published last week said, “It’s a big budget. It is a big operation. Our biggest expenses are salaries and benefits for the 800 county employees as well as highway projects.”

During the hearing, council members did not have a majority vote to approve funding for three full-time employees, but did approve funding for one part-time employee for the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program (YAP). The council deadlocked on the vote for the three full-time employees with a 3-3 vote. Council members Amy Massillamany, Steve Schwartz and Ken Alexander voted in favor. Council members Fred Glenn, Brad Beaver and Rick McKinney voted not to approve. Councilman Jeff Hern was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.

YAP Program Director Trisha Akers was asking the council to fund one youth advocate for each of the cities of Westfield, Carmel and Fishers. Those communities currently have only one advocate handling a large case load.

YAP serves as an early intervention advocate for youth ages 3 to 17 who are facing challenging life circumstances.

McKinney

County Councilman Rick McKinney stated, “All in all, the Hamilton County Council’s first day of budget deliberations went extremely well.”

McKinney told the Reporter, “Based on our financial consultant’s estimates, the county tax rate will decrease 1.4 percent with assessed valuation increasing 6.33 percent.”

“Hamilton County government is in a solidly strong financial position today, which will continue through the end of 2020, with a projected combined Rainy Day and General Fund cash balance of nearly $46 million.”

“We have approved the addition of six new full-time and two part-time positions for county government in 2020,” said McKinney.

McKinney did point out two highlights from Tuesday’s meeting:

1. The approval of $835,000 for new and additional voting machines to improve and lessen the time to vote.
2. The County Recorder providing $574,606 from the office’s dedicated document fee fund to pay for her office’s salaries. This was made possible by a state law that includes an annual allowance from this fund, which may be done on a year by year basis. The fund’s current balance is $3.9 million and can only be used for the office’s operations.

The budget hearing resumes at 8:30 a.m. today at the Hamilton County Judicial Center. Council members are expected to discuss the County Highway and Communication Center budgets, along with possible funding of nonprofits.