St. Joseph County Council discuss budget increases

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - With the closing of Portage Manor, the county looks to save $1 million, so council members, county commissioners, auditors - in all 15 individuals - met to discuss an increase in budgets for various departments throughout the county. 

The History Museum was asking for a $329,158 budget including salaries ($74,015), repairs and maintenance ($20,000), lobby doors ($21,000), overhead door seals ($18,500) and a storage building facade ($195,643). 

Liberty Fire Department asked for a budget to cover the costs of building additional fire stations. 

The Hotel/Motel tax board projected they'll get $6 million in revenue. With their $5.9 million budget, they included $1 million for bringing tourists to the area. 

Solid Waste Management asked for a $4.5 million budget stating that they intend to extend their reach in service areas from 74,000 to 78,000 homes. 

Commissioners, not stating their budget, asked for a 50% pay raise, bringing their current pay from $50,000 to $75,000. 

The auditor's total budget was $21 million. They included legal services ($600,000), $6.2 million in perpetuity, the Opioid Restriction Fund, coming from a settlement ($140,000) and health insurance ($16 million). 

Lastly, the county engineer received a 16% increase, raising their salary to $150,000.

In total, the St. Joseph County budget looks to run $21 million. 

President of the County Council, Mark Root, praised departments for compiling their budgets with guidance. 

"We've still got some tough decisions to make," he said naming the prosecutor's budget. "I think most departmental budgets have been decided or we pretty much know where we're going to go with them at this point."