The Knox City Council members reviewed requests from Starke County to pay for the election costs in 2023 and a portion of the salary of a Starke County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher.
The county has asked the city for $19,985 to help with the salary of a dispatcher. The county is asking the City of Knox, Town of Hamlet and Town of North Judson to put in funds to help offset costs to the county as it carries the full weight of costs. Starke County Sheriff’s Department Matron/Office Manager Pam McDonald told WKVI News that the State’s 911 Fund in the budget helps fund dispatcher salaries, but it is reportedly not enough to cover all costs that run the dispatch center which is about $500,000.
Mayor Dennis Estok said he needs more documentation. Beyond that, he said it would create a hardship on the city’s budget.
“There’s no way that we can fit that in our General Fund, even next year,” stated Mayor Estok. “We don’t even pay all of our bills to run the city through the General Fund because of the property tax base and maximum levy. We don’t get enough to do that. We have to pay some through CEDIT.”
The county’s request sparked a conversation about the city’s responsibility to fund Knox City Court which handles all traffic infractions and criminal misdemeanors in Starke County. The mayor said the city has subsidized the costs of City Court over the years and gets no funding assistance from the county.
Mayor Estok and the council members commented that a conversation about City Court should be held with county officials in concert with the dispatcher funding request.
Mayor Estok said the county also sent a notice about collecting costs for the 2023 Municipal Election. The city’s cost would be about $8,000.
No funding decisions were made. More discussions will be held in future meetings.
