Starke County CARES Act committee members will be meeting next week to determine what the county needs in order to spend $744,000 in CARES Act funding.
Auditor Rachel Oesterreich told the Starke County Commissioners on Monday that the county needs to spend the money by Dec. 31 or it will not be available to use.
“It would cover PPE here for employees – anything that we need for sanitizing,” stated Oesterreich. “We can use it for any kind of technology upgrades that we would possibly need as long as it relates to our communication needs online. It also allows for meal deliveries to senior citizens.”
Starke County Council President Dave Pearman commented technology upgrades could help residents who remain at home to conduct business with the county.
She asked the commissioners to use $27,000 of that funding to start up a website where Starke County resident can look up all property tax information without coming in to the office. All of the property information would be found on the website, with the exception of the copy of the deed. She noted that residents can still come into the office if needed.
The website would be facilitated through LOW Tax Info. Several other counties use the service.
Even if the CARES Act funding doesn’t cover the cost, the money could be used from the LOW Training Fund that would cover the start up cost and the maintenance fee for several years.
The commissioners approved the request with a unanimous vote.
