County’s tough times noted in discussion

Decatur Daily Democrat:

During Monday's discussion about whether or not to break the county hiring freeze and fill an educator's position in the county extension office, Commissioner Ed Coil pointed out that due to budget cutbacks, the highway department has lost seven employees in the past four years (largely by retirements) and only recently replaced one of them.

He also noted that each fulltime county employee is assisted in medical coverage by a $9,000 payment per year by the county, and that the county pays almost $100,000 to Purdue, about half the cost of operating the extension office.

Commissioner Doug Bauman added that proceeds from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) are down, no miles of county roads will be prepared this year for chip-and-seal improvement in 2012, and the number of miles of road improved in 2010 was 20 fewer than in 2009 — all because of falling revenue.

"It's tough on all corners," said Bauman.