COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County budget hearings continue Tuesday,at 5 p.m., at 440 Third Street in Columbus. The hearings are open to the public. Elected officials are looking for ways to address a shortfall that could be as high as $3.2 million.
Sheriff Matt Myers will get one of the three additional deputies he requested, and 11 of the 13 new cruisers he requested.
The plan to purchase new radios and body cameras at a cost of about $555,000 is dependent on a few key factors. First, a request to the Department of Homeland Security to fund 25 percent of the purchase is still under review. Secondly, County Commissioners have yet to earmark how much of their $1 million dollar telecommunications fund will be allocated. And the results of a planned equipment test in September are not known yet.
Officials are also considering a three percent pay raise for county workers. Another plan is to cut the work week to 37.5 hours while still paying county employees for a 40-hour work week.
The first reading of the budget is scheduled for September 8.