The council ended its budget session Thursday by approving nearly $74,000 in spending increases but also cutting about $150,000, leaving more of a cushion than what it had earlier this week.

The bulk of the cuts Thursday came in the county auditor’s budget, when the council unanimously rejected a revised budget submitted by County Auditor Jim Kopp that included $16,682 in pay hikes for his staff, $40,345 more in hourly, and $15,000 more in overtime.

Instead, the council approved Kopp’s originally submitted budget that cut this year’s budget by just under $150,000 due to a decrease in the county’s gas card program, which his office oversees.

“I like the idea of whacking $150,000 out of this budget,” said council member Dan Whitten, D-at large.

The unanimous decision rattled a few nerves.

Kopp said his employees are working longer hours than any other department, and that it’s not uncommon for them to still be in the office as late as 10 p.m.

He also said it’s not the auditor office’s fault that this year’s tax bills are delayed, citing the following problems: The treasurer’s numbers have been faulty for years; the Information Technology Services department wrote over billing records, forcing his office to re-create tax bills; glitches and errors continue to be found with the new tax software vendor; and the assessor’s office was late in getting assessment data to his office.

“It is not your auditor’s office that’s the problem,” Kopp said.

Kopp also reminded the council that the state will take over the next round of trending for Porter County, since the assessor’s office has not yet done the work.

Also addressing the council in support of the increased funding for staff was office manager Alizabeth Bailey, who emphasized that the assessor’s office turned in assessment data one year late.

A few council members weren’t swayed.

“Do you want us to go down the laundry list?” responded Whitten, who cited Kopp’s defense of the previous software vendor even after it failed to get state certified.

Whitten also said that a few weeks ago, when Kopp was on a vacation, he learned that the next in command was away at the same time, while the third deputy also wasn’t available.

If taxpayers were to grade the county’s performance when it comes to the tax bills, “it wouldn’t be pretty,” Whitten said.

But Kopp said the pay for his auditor’s staff is low compared with counties of a similar size. Council member Karen Conover, R-3rd, agreed that county government pay is on the low side, but that most other county departments don’t get overtime as the auditor’s office has.

In the end, the council approved the original budget submitted, with a $149,870 decrease. The decisions made Thursday left the council with an overall increase in the 2010 general fund budgets of about $44,000 so far, or a spending cushion of just under $1.2 million.

Other departments had an easier time at their budget hearings Thursday.

County Coroner Victoria Deppe secured a budget increase of about $14,000, which includes a new fifth deputy at a part-time pay of $7,309.

Deppe said that so far this year, deaths in Porter County are up 16 percent. Because her part-time deputies have other full-time jobs, Deppe said there have been times when she’s the only one on call, making it impossible for her to get to more than one scene at a time.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” said Conover in support of the budget request.

The Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District also won council approval to create a $35,000 position that will combine the duties of the office secretary with the district’s education coordinator. The latter position is now paid $18,000 through fundraisers and other sources that are drying up.

SWC District Chair James Lambert said because the current administrative assistant is retiring at the end of this year, the cost for the new position will be minimal. The overall budget was approved with a $6,070 increase.

The biggest general fund budget increase Thursday was a $51,682 increase for the Animal Shelter for increased costs in food, veterinary care, supplies and other expenses.

County Commissioner President Robert Harper said that in the past, the shelter relied largely on donations for its supplies. While donations are still coming in, they don’t cover all the needs, especially now that the shelter is open during extended hours in order to encourage more pet adoptions, he said.

Whitten said he remembers how the shelter was a “disaster” in previous years. “It was embarrassing, and now it’s something we can be proud of,” he said.

The budget hearings will resume Monday at 5 p.m. with a review of the budgets for the health department, election board, sheriff and jail, clerk’s, and prosecutor.

Posted 8/14/2009