First Part of Fiscal Plan Presented to Pulaski County Council, Commissioners

Fiscal Planning Consultant Jeffrey Peters (standing) discusses Pulaski County’s finances with the county council and commissioners

Pulaski County could see annual funding shortfalls of $2.7 million within the next few years, if it remains on its current financial path. Consultant Jeffrey Peters presented the first part of a fiscal plan to the county council and commissioners Monday.

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Vote to Add New Secretary for Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office Ends in Tie

Pulaski County Council: back row: Mike Tiede, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young; front row: Scott Hinkle, Rudy DeSabatine, Jay Sullivan (not pictured: Ken Boswell)

The addition of a new secretary for the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office appears to depend on a recommendation from the county commissioners, after the county council was once again unable to reach a clear consensus Monday.

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Culver School Board Establishes Fund for Referendum Money

The Culver Community Schools Corporation will now officially be able to use its referendum revenues, following action by the school board. In November, voters agreed to let the school district raise property taxes by up to 17 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period. The school board took a final step Monday by establishing a Referendum Fund to accept that money.

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Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Continues Seeking Clarification on Starting Pay Rate

Confusion remains over how much money new Pulaski County Highway Department employees are supposed to make. Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff brought the question to the county council Monday. “We hired two new guys,” he explained. “What’s the deal on their pay? What do I tell them they’re getting paid right now? I don’t know if it’s $13.77. Is it for six months, a year? What are we doing?”

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Pulaski County May Consider Lease Purchase Agreement for Next Ambulance

 

Financing options for a new ambulance were presented to the Pulaski County Commissioners last month. Angie Deming with Republic First National out of Rochester explained that the company specializes in lease purchase agreements. “Really, a lease purchase is no different than a loan,” she explained. “The only thing that makes this program different than a loan is that a loan is going to have a fixed term; regardless of what happens here at the county, you’re required to make the payment. However, with the lease purchase plan, it has a clause that’s called a non-appropriation clause in it.”

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Bids for Paving Work, Dump Truck Sought by Pulaski County Highway Department

The Pulaski County Highway Department is seeking bids for paving work, as well as a new dump truck. Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff told the county commissioners last week that he wants to have cost estimates ready for the next round of Community Crossings grants. The state program covers up to 75 percent of the cost of qualifying road work.

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Finalized 2019 Knox Schools Budget to Include Slight Tax Increase

The Knox Community School Corporation’s 2019 budget has been approved by the state with no big surprises, according to Treasurer Dawn Bailey. She told the school board last week that the Department of Local Government Finance cut the budget a little bit, and that the district’s property tax rate is set to go up by a little more than two cents.

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