The Starke County Council has begun preparing for what members described as a challenging 2027 budget season, citing an expected reduction in state funding that could require departments to reduce spending while the county works to maintain services.
During Monday’s meeting, council members discussed their approach to the upcoming budget process, noting they expect the county to receive nearly 10% less funding from the state.
Council members said they hope to preserve employee raises where possible, but acknowledged that departments will likely be asked to reduce their budgets in an effort to offset the anticipated decrease in revenue. Some members suggested asking departments to cut spending by as much as 10% where feasible, while recognizing that larger departments and public safety agencies may have less flexibility.
The council also discussed using other available funding sources, including solar-related revenue, to help address some budget needs while continuing to fund county services. Members said the upcoming budget workshops will focus more on identifying possible reductions than on the line-by-line reviews conducted in previous years.
