The appropriations approved by commissioners Dec. 20 also included a 2.5 percent increase in general fund salary accounts for nonunion county employees.
The commissioners said they expect the general fund to balance at around $32 million in 2019. The appropriations for all county funds totaled $95,869,227 and projected revenues were $86,570,927.
Commission President John “Bud” O’Brien said the sheriff’s department appropriations for 2019 were up 9.4 percent or around $933,000.
The fourth pod opening would require the hiring of eight additional correction officers while the security measures, to include checkpoints staffed by deputies at the Courthouse and the Safety Building, would require five more deputies.
The commissioners met with Sheriff Dave Duchak the day before the appropriations were approved to discuss timing for the projects.
Duchak said he hoped to have infrastructure in place for the security project by May 1 but would need to train new deputies over time because of a limited number of training officers. Overtime could be used for a time to staff the program, if needed.
The opening of the fourth pod should add to the beds available to rent to other agencies. Some beds already are being rented by other counties and the federal marshal’s service. If all 60 beds in a pod would be rented every day for a year, it would generate $1.2 million, O’Brien said.
The commissioners thanked other elected officials, department heads and employees for helping control costs. The 2018 general fund budget surplus at year’s end was projected Dec. 20 at $1.3 million.
“I would like to once again recapitulate the thanks to elected officials for presenting conservative budgets. I would like to personally thank Sheriff Duchak for being innovative on renting out bed space … and bringing in revenue,” said Commissioner Greg Simmons.
O’Brien, who left his commission seat at year’s end, thanked employees. “I’ve met a lot of fantastic folks who work here. They really try every day to do the best job they can to do what’s best for their departments, their positions and do what’s right by the citizens of Miami County,” he said.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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