By VICKI URBANIK

The Porter County Council’s self-imposed goal of flatlining county general fund budgets as much as possible in 2008 got a bit more challenging on Wednesday.

By a 6-1 vote, the council approved a big increase in the County Election Board budget – from $246,200 this year to $527,650 – to cover the higher costs associated with next year’s presidential elections.

It was an added expense the council clearly wanted to avoid.

The council already knows that it needs to find an additional $210,000 for county employee health insurance costs. And if the council agrees to give county employees raises, the added cost could range from $113,250 to $679,500.

Projections show that the state will allow the county government to increase its property tax levy for the general fund by about $900,000 next year. But so far, the council has balked at such an increase, instead setting a goal of flatlining general fund budgets as much as possible, and cutting and shifting expenses to other fee-based or discretionary funds.

The council resumed its hearings Wednesday having earlier shaved roughly $75,000 from this year’s general fund.

When it came time to review the elections board budget, the council found that it had little choice but to approve the additional $281,450.

Porter County Clerk Dale Brewer noted that ever since she has been clerk, Porter County has had the highest voter turnout in the state. She urged the council to adequately fund next year’s elections.

This year’s elections are costing considerably less, since the only elections involve cities and towns, which are expected to reimburse the county for a part of the expense. Brewer said that although the municipalities have been billed, no one has been able to pay since local taxing units have yet to receive this year’s tax draws.

Council President Dan Whitten, D-at large, cast the sole no vote to the higher election budget. After the vote, he reminded the council that it was running more than $400,000 shy of its goal at keeping the general fund the same as this year’s, given the insurance cost and raises.

Brewer, who is leaving office at the end of the year and will be replaced by new clerk Pamela Fish, had originally asked for two additional employees. But she withdrew her request, after a council memo calling on departments to submit budgets identical to this year’s.

Several times, Brewer urged the council not to further cut the clerk’s budget.

“There is nothing in this budget. Please do not handicap her” before she takes office, Brewer said, referring to Fish.

Posted 8/30/2007