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Monday, October 03, 2011

Ind. Gov't. - "With mandate money, county expects to stay solvent"

From the Jeffersonville News & Tribune, Braden Lammers reported Sept. 30th:

At Thursday’s Clark County Commissioners meeting, Attorney Greg Fifer said the county is expected to receive bond funding for a mandate in about two weeks and the money should cover expenses until the December property tax settlement is received.

“As long as all departments do not overspend their reduced appropriations by the council, with monies coming in, we will end the year in the black,” said Clark County Auditor R. Monty Snelling.

Fifer said the first in a series of two bonds — both related to mandates — was sold Thursday and the county received an interest rate of 0.9 percent.

The two bonds being sought include Clark County Superior Court No. 2 Judge Jerry Jacobi’s mandate from 2010, the Clark County Courts’ mandate from this year and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department mandate. The sheriff’s department bond and appropriation must still be approved by the Clark County Council, but the courts mandate has already been approved.

In addition, the commissioners approved resolution 8-2011 approving a mediation agreement with the sheriff.

The resolution, which was unanimously approved, was reduced from the initial amount agreed to at $2.2 million, down to $2 million.

Snelling, following the vote, asked to clarify to the audience why it was necessary that the commissioners approve the mediation agreement.

“They almost have to pass this because our office has a court order from the Circuit Court saying whatever bills the sheriff turns in, I’m court ordered to pay them,” he said. “Even if we don’t have the money in the account I have to pay them. If we don’t get this through at the end of the year the whole county’s going to be in trouble because the court said, ‘you pay the bills whether you have the money or not.’”

Snelling was referring to the decision of Clark County Circuit Court Judge Dan Moore that issued a preliminary injunction and the ordered mediation over the suit filed by the sheriff’s department.

The injunction forced the county council to continue to fund operations for the department and kept the commissioners from denying Sheriff Danny Rodden’s payroll or claims, as they previously threatened to do because the county was spending too far into a deficit.

For background, see this ILB entry from August 19th.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 3, 2011 09:31 AM
Posted to Indiana Government