By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Kosciusko County Council finished two days of budget meetings on Tuesday and finalized some key decisions.
Council compromised on a request by Sheriff Jim Smith to establish a cost-of-living adjustment increase for retirees.
Smith lobbied for weeks for a three percent COLA program for retirees and for current deputies who qualify.
Council agreed to start a COLA for current deputies at 1.5 percent and provide an annual bonus check for existing retirees as long as the sheriff’s department’s pension plan remains funded at a certain level.
Smith said the new benefit is needed to attract and retain quality workers and pointed out that other nearby large law enforcement agencies already provide the program.
Smith said he appreciated the effort, especially in what has been difficult times for local taxing units due to property tax reform efforts by state lawmakers.
Council also approved a plan presented by the county’s judges to provide probation workers with a $10,000 stipend from user fees to help make up for a longstanding shortfall in their pay levels.
Officials believe the user fee is healthy enough to replenish itself and cover annual stipends for the probation officers.
County judges said they would review the plan to continue the contribution each year.
Efforts to provide a sizeable hike have been discussed for about a year, and a plan earlier this year was shot down.
Probation officers’ wages are paid by both the state and the county. County judges have a key role in helping increase the county’s contribution to probation officer salaries.
The proposal was approved by a 5-2 vote on Tuesday.
Those opposed were Kathy Groninger, who said she wanted more information on the issue, and Council President Tony Ciriello, who said he thought it was too much.
Council also approved numerous wage adjustments based on a recommendation from the county wage committee. Some of those were for elected officials.
Most other county employees will receive a two percent pay hike for 2026.
County officials entered the budget sessions worried for weeks over how much impact state legislation known as SB 1 would have on local taxing units.
Schools sustained the largest reduction, but Ciriello said county taxing units across the county were expected to see some $700 million in lost revenues.
So far, the impact has been less than expected.
“This year was a little more difficult because of the unknown factors of Senate Bill 1, but when we found out we were in better shape than we thought we would be, it kind of took a little burden off us, (but) we’re still conscious of things,” Ciriello said.
The county also had some good news as a result of investments.
“We’re fortunate (that) last year, our investments brought us in about $5 million in interest, which kept us a little more solvent and upright for right now,” he said.
According to preliminary budget information provided by the county, which will still see total salary allocations decrease, the general fund budget, which covers many of core county expenditures, is expected to rise from $30.5 million in 2025 to slightly under $32 million in 2026.
Final calculations will be reviewed, and cuts to the 2026 plan could still be made if necessary, Ciriello said.
The budget needs to be approved in September.
