Starke County Council and Commissioners to begin Budget Discussions on Monday

Posted on August 2, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The Starke County Council and Commission members will begin budget discussions on Monday, Aug. 6.

The government leaders will be meeting with department heads beginning at 8 a.m. in the meeting room in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1. The officials will discuss needs for each department and how budgets can stay status quo for 2019.

Any potential increases will be reviewed for further consideration.

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler recently presented a preliminary look at the highway department’s budget to the county council. Less gas tax money will assist with road projects in 2019. Ritzler said about $370,000 less will come to the county in 2019.

Ritzler noted that the county’s asset management plan has allowed the department to move some projects around to accommodate this loss in funding. He stressed that local services will NOT be cut.

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem told WKVI News that they don’t have any capital projects outlined yet. She said they typically prioritize projects at the beginning of the year.

NJ-SP School Board Reviewing Revenue Figures, Improving Policies

Published: May 19, 2015

By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will be setting the table for future budget discussions.

At their meeting tonight, Board members will learn more about how the latest decisions in the state legislature will affect their fiscal year budget. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says she hopes to explain the new revenue figures to the board.

Thoughts right now indicate North Judson-San Pierre schools will see reduced funding in the next fiscal year budget. The school corporation is considering a referendum to increase the area’s property tax levy to make up for the funding gap.

Rural school districts – which are generally losing population their population base – are considered likely to see reduced funding.

The Board will also take action to revise the school corporation’s acceptable use policy. The AUP, as it’s called, is designed to protect students and staff from viewing inappropriate content, as well as specify proper care for the equipment for school owned technology.

Exactly which revisions are being made will become clear during tonight’s meeting.

Board members will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the NJ-SP Administration Building.