Putnam Budget Would Require 14-Cent Tax Increase

A 14-cent property tax increase would be needed to cover a $2.3 million shortfall within the Putnam County General Fund.

A discussion about how to fund that increase will be held during Tuesday’s budget committee meeting.

Chairman Ben Rodgers said Monday evening the committee basically has one option at this time.

“The only option right now is through property taxes and that equals 14-cents alone in the General Fund,” Rodgers said. “They have to contemplate that tonight and come back tomorrow night and be ready to make a decision on the tax levy. Are we going to stay at $2.73 or are we going to increase it to $2.87 or beyond?”

The committee on Monday cut roughly $1.4 million from the proposed spending plan to get to the $2.3 million figure. Most of those cuts came by eliminating 11 of 22 proposed new employees.

Committee members Cindy Adams had proposed cutting all 22 employees at one point during the meeting.

“I’m ready to say no the all of these additions,” Adams said. “All of them are legitimate requests, but sometimes you can’t have what you want.”

The sheriff’s office saw more than $600,000 cut from it’s budget. The committee voted to fund two of five proposed school resource officers, two of the four proposed jail correction officers, one new road deputy, and a part-time investigator. They also eliminated a request for an evidence technician.

The committee also cut proposals for three full-time firefighters to serve the Monterey station, a new deputy clerk, and vehicle mechanic. A motion was approved to fund the road department at the same rate as last year. The department had requested a 5-cent property tax increase.

A budget and tax levy could be approved and sent to the full county commission after tonight’s budget committee meeting.